Some fast food restaurants are offering more discounts and lower prices during the recession. DAILY FILE PHOTO
Not all industries suffer during economic downturns. In fact, fast food restaurants and movie theaters usually thrive during recessions.
This may not be true in Evanston, however. While movie theaters are indeed doing well, employees say fast food establishments are offering specials to maintain sales.
Managers at Evanston fast food restaurants said sales have been variable.
“It’s up and down. Some days are good days, some days are bad days,” said Robert Engelhartz, manager of Evanston’s Taco Bell, 1743 Sherman Ave. “In times like this, people cut back, so when the economy’s better we get more sales. It’s like a roller coaster.”
At Evanston’s Papa John’s, sales have been fine lately, but in general they were higher two years ago, said manager Murayo Ibrhem. A Burger King employee said the restaurant hasn’t really seen any impact.
Several Evanston fast food restaurants are offering reduced prices on selected items to stimulate sales. Taco Bell has reduced prices on several items and is offering a special on nachos for 79 cents, while Papa John’s has increased the discount offered to students, Ibrhem said.
In the fourth quarter of 2008, which runs from October through December, admissions revenues for Cinemark, the parent company of the Century Evanston 12/CinéArts 6 Theatre on 1715 Maple Ave., increased 3.7 percent to $261.7 million, employees said. Revenue from concessions increased 5.5 percent to $125.1 million. These revenue increases were mainly due to an increase in movie attendance of just under 6 percent.
“The motion picture industry continues to be a bright spot in the economy, experiencing strong fourth quarter performance in an increasingly challenging global economic environment,” said Alan Stock, Cinemark’s chief executive officer. “As in past recessions, consumers have proven that they recognize the cinema as an opportunity to affordably escape from everyday pressures.”
Representatives from Century 12 in Evanston were not allowed to discuss specifics for Evanston.
Still, the price of the average movie ticket across the United States is $7.18, which is lower than the average cost of seeing a play or musical, attending a concert or sports competition or even going bowling, said John Fithian, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners.
“As a tough economy puts the value of every dollar in stark relief, consumers are revealing their careful spending priorities in a way that bodes very well for the cinema industry,” he said. “Simply put, we work in a recession-resistant industry.”
Nationally, recessions may have an effect on how often people see movies or eat fast food, but many students said their habits haven’t changed.
“In my group of friends, I don’t think the recession has really affected anyone,” said Weinberg sophomore Chika Nwosu. “We go the same amount as before.”
Many students said that with their busy schedules, they don’t have time to go see movies in theaters.
Weinberg freshman Sasha Levine said she hasn’t noticed any changes due to the economic downturn.
“I’m sure I’ll think about it more in the future,” she said. “I don’t think the effects have hit me yet.”