September 3 is the date DL's hub in Memphis officially closes. For years people on this board have written about how good the food is at MEM, particularly the BBQ. Today the local paper had an article noting that 4 restaurants have closed in the airport (and this before the hub officially ends). Significantly, the article quoted Jim Neely of Interstate BBQ:
"With the hub operation all but gone, airport officials Thursday reported a newsstand and four more restaurants have closed due to lack of business. But Jim Neely keeps soldiering on.
'Were out there and paying our money, but were not making anything,' said Neely, who operates two Interstate Bar-B-Ques inside the struggling Memphis airport. 'For some months now, I have paid more to the airport than what I took in.'"
The articles goes on to state that Neely is subsidizing the losses on his airport location with the profits from his non-airport location.
Neely says he wants to stay in the airport, but it's hard for any businessman to justify running a losing operation.
With just 6 weeks to go, I would say that those of you who have enjoyed your BBQ in MEM should consider making one last stop there. It may not be available soon.
"With the hub operation all but gone, airport officials Thursday reported a newsstand and four more restaurants have closed due to lack of business. But Jim Neely keeps soldiering on.
'Were out there and paying our money, but were not making anything,' said Neely, who operates two Interstate Bar-B-Ques inside the struggling Memphis airport. 'For some months now, I have paid more to the airport than what I took in.'"
The articles goes on to state that Neely is subsidizing the losses on his airport location with the profits from his non-airport location.
Neely says he wants to stay in the airport, but it's hard for any businessman to justify running a losing operation.
With just 6 weeks to go, I would say that those of you who have enjoyed your BBQ in MEM should consider making one last stop there. It may not be available soon.