I'm all for supporting local businesses when I've got the chance, but I'm not big on the assumption that the local places are always preferable to the chains. There are a fair number of local places who seem to succeed by running their businesses like an Applebee's and skating by on location.
And then there are the decent chains as well. Our go-to place for a couple quick sandwiches in Destin is Zoe's. Small chain out of Alabama that does Greek-influenced sandwiches and salads. The local franchise is owned by a nice couple in their late 20s/early 30s. We've been eating there since they opened, and I know how hard they worked to get their businesses off the gorund. There were a couple of years there where it seemed like they were working 70 hour work weeks doing everything including a fair amount of the cooking because they didn't seem to be in the position to hire counter staff at the time. Good customer service, and it's always pleasant to eat there.
I'm glad they seem to have made it, chain or no, and I'm actually glad when I go there and don't see them in the restuarant because they deserve to be able to cut back to a 40 hour work week running their business.
Big chainers, dine at your own risk!
