Daniel Cox reminisces about family dinners at Pizza Hut, which provided comfort during his parents' divorce. In contrast, today, as a father, he finds it challenging to replicate those experiences due to busy schedules and rising food costs. Casual dining restaurants have faced significant decline over the years, with notable chains filing for bankruptcy and numerous locations closing. Recent surveys show that many Americans are dining out at casual restaurants less frequently, diminishing the opportunity for family gatherings over shared meals.
Mr. Cox's parents were divorced, and the Pizza Hut ritual was centering for the family. It was a time when we were all together and everyone was enjoying the experience, he recalled.
Once rapidly growing commercial marvels, casual dining chains...have been in decline for most of the 21st century.
According to a February survey by the market research firm Datassential, 24 percent of Americans say they are having dinner at casual restaurants less often, and 29 percent are dining out less with groups of friends and family.
Pizza Hut locations with actual dining rooms are vanishingly rare, with hundreds closing since 2019.
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