Far better than playing for a huge plate of food that you are going to leave half of eh !

We sometimes have `light bites` on menus, smaller portions/healthier dishes, trouble is when I go for these I get tempted to top it up with a couple of sides which defeats the object !

I finally had a day off when it isn't freezing ass cold or raining! Sunny and actually hot today in WI. :clap:

Clay nailed it, thanks buddy. It is smaller portions at a discount price.

LOL I can't wait till I get my 55plus discount on food!

My folks do when we go out to eat but I'm stuck with minimial food and huge prices.

Nooooooooo!!!! We are losing our Ben Franklin!

I am beyond bummed...

Who even knew there was still a Ben Franklin up around your neck of the woods! Most closed down years ago!

Hmm? What? How? Where?

I think she means store! Like an old-fashion dime store

I never heard of Ben Franklin either. The store, obviously I've heard of the person.

Yes, it's a dime store and it's wonderful... the owner of the building is raising the rent to the point where they are driving small businesses out.

They had one of those Ben franklins in lambertville N.J., I loved that place, now it’s some terribly expensive fusion restaurant where you pay 40 dollars for 2 pumpkin ravioli with a tiny sprinkle of rabbit food on top.

I really dislike restaurants that don’t serve food but decorative plates instead; and the whole purpose is to be seen there, or tell of your trip there and who you saw. Food rarely enters the reasons.

I’ll ttake a nice mom n pop diner/restaraunt that has great food, great owners, and you don’t have to say who was there cause you know every body, you r a regular and before you can sit at the table your coffee and glass of ice is already on its way.

I hate those "Small Plates" places as well...so pretentious!

I hate this phenomenon. One of our iconic shopping centers (Toco Hills) was bought about a year or so ago, and they have raised the rents to the place that all the good mom-and-pop stores are moving out. Just last Friday, Bagel Palace closed - the source of the best and most authentic bagels in Atlanta, not to mention the best whitefish salad. They have also closed a shoe store, a jeweler and a pub I liked. The stores that are staying are big chain grocery stores and places like Ace Hardware. This same development company has bought other shopping centers in Atlanta, and they have become all the same, no more locally owned businesses, all chain stores.

I don't care how many Massage Envy chains move into Toco Hills, all my reasons for shopping there are leaving.

Sounds like a few stores here as welll. Toys r us is out amongst other places.

A lot of chains are suffering this side of the pond too. Poundworld has just gone into receivership, Marks and Spencers a very popular dept store reported a big fall in profits, Toys R Us are all closing here too, House Of Frazer are closing a lot of stores and numerous other's all what we call here `High Street` big names. When these stores disappear from smaller towns it has a drastic impact on trade for other shops and jobs. Again its often the rates being so high that leave little profit left.

I live in quite a rural area so often shop on line and also often feel bad about that so I make a point most weeks of driving to one of the little villages scattered about and picking up a few bits and bobs. In particular I pop into the chemists and post offices as I know when they close it can really be troublesome for the elderly to access the services they need close at hand.

And I`ll say I invariably end up chatting to several people along the way, smaller independent shops always seem to have a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere and have time for those who want to chat as well as shop. After all, for some solitary souls it may be the only conversation they have with anyone all day.

That was thought exactly... what's a Ben Franklin? Now I know! :)

Unless... it's a tapas bar... those are wonderful! ;)

BUMP..........