Many eateries being quietly put on the market...

BY: ALEXANDRA CLOUGH
DATE: Sunday, June 22, 2008
PUBLICATION: Palm Beach Post

On the other hand, there is one restaurant company that's doing well enough to plot an expansion - and that's Duffy's Sports Grill, based in Palm Beach Gardens.

Duffy's owner Paul Emmett said he's about to open two more restaurant sites, bringing the number in the local chain to 18. A Deerfield Beach Duffy's is opening in August on Federal Highway at Hillsboro Boulevard. And a Duffy's is opening in July in Melbourne.

Some may question why Duffy's would want to expand in this economy. "But our business goes up in economic downturns," Emmett said. Experts say that's because people who still like to eat out trade down to casual dining restaurants offering good food at lower prices.

Downturns also allow Duffy's to continue its expansion by moving into distressed restaurant space vacated by others - so look for other locations opening up soon. The only tough task: finding capital to do the expansion. "There's not much credit available for used restaurant equipment," Emmett quipped.

Emmett said he's holding the line on menu prices, absorbing higher costs for food. "We've even lowered a few prices," he said. "We'd rather take a little on the food costs than jeopardize the core business. We are totally committed to not raising prices."