About a year ago, one opened at the edge of the heavily gay neighborhood in Dallas. The franchisee made valiant (if clumsy) efforts to draw in late night crowds: drag night, karaoke, costume contests, etc. But the place stayed empty. Eventually, they shut it down. Part of the reason may have been building-related. (Parking was plentiful, but underground, which doesn't seem worth the trouble to many Texans.) Part of it may have been that trying to sell California flamboyance in Texas is a dicey proposition. And yet another part may have been that, in my estimation, their food--while generously portioned (which is quite the norm here)--was unexceptional and priced above market. Their location was about a quarter mile from my home, yet I could find several better, cheaper burgers in the same radius.
And there's a smoking ban in Dallas restaurants, nullifying the "big draw" Ronnie recalls from his SF haze...er,
days.
Scott