Max & Ermas Bites the Dust - Pretty Much

**Lowell** · January-19-16, 10:48 AM

Nearly all Metro Detroit Max & Erma's restaurants closed suddenly on Monday.

"The restaurant chain’s website has three locations listed in Michigan, including ones in Clinton Township, Lansing and Detroit Metro Airport.

Closed locations include The Village of Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills at Baldwin and I-75, Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, Laurel Park Place in Livonia, Beck Rd. in Plymouth, Canton Center in Canton and a location on Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor."

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/01/...gan-locations/

Not too surprising from my POV. I used to like their product, the long-gone Birmingham shop in particular, but it kept slipping and after a 3rd disappointing meal a few years back I have not returned.

Nonetheless my heart goes out to those employees losing their jobs in the middle of winter.

**3WC** · January-19-16, 11:36 AM

I wonder how much the minimum wage laws had to do with the decision.

In my opinion, minimum wage laws do far more harm than good as for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. [[Physics and Econ 101).

Just another example of the government interfering in things about which, along with everything else, it's incompetent. But the politicians get lots of votes from those who have no clue.

**Bham1982** · January-19-16, 11:41 AM

In terms of food quality, Max & Ermas was pretty bad. TGI Fridays-type dining, with everything from freezers, lots of microwaved crap from Sysco, isn't doing too well these days. People will pay a few dollars more for real food, or a few dollars less for fast casual.

**downtownguy** · January-21-16, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by 3WC

I wonder how much the minimum wage laws had to do with the decision.

In my opinion, minimum wage laws do far more harm than good as for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. [[Physics and Econ 101).

Just another example of the government interfering in things about which, along with everything else, it's incompetent. But the politicians get lots of votes from those who have no clue.

If what you're saying is true, wouldn't the entire restaurant industry be suffering? Why just Max & Erma's? From the posts here, it seems to have more to do with Customer Service 101.

**drjeff** · January-21-16, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by 3WC

I wonder how much the minimum wage laws had to do with the decision.

In my opinion, minimum wage laws do far more harm than good as for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. [[Physics and Econ 101).

Just another example of the government interfering in things about which, along with everything else, it's incompetent. But the politicians get lots of votes from those who have no clue.

The US has had a minimum wage law since 1938. Yes, that must be totally responsible for for a crappy restaurant chain shutting down in 2016. and FWIW, someone working 40 hours a week all 52 weeks per year at the current minimum wage in Michigan would earn a whopping $16,952 before taxes. Good luck living on that outside of a homeless shelter, let alone with a family.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · January-21-16, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by downtownguy

If what you're saying is true, wouldn't the entire restaurant industry be suffering? Why just Max & Erma's? From the posts here, it seems to have more to do with Customer Service 101.

Agreed... has nothing to do with minimum wages. If the food quality or customer service declines, so do the people....

**Don K** · January-21-16, 05:10 PM

Let me know when Applebee's, Friday's, Outback, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden are all closing down stores and I'll concede that maybe the minimum wage has something to do with it. Until there's a generalized bloodbath in the reasonably-priced dining industry, however, i'll just chalk this up to customers voting with their dollars not to patronize a mediocre chain.

**ABetterDetroit** · January-21-16, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by 3WC

I wonder how much the minimum wage laws had to do with the decision.

In my opinion, minimum wage laws do far more harm than good as for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. [[Physics and Econ 101).

Just another example of the government interfering in things about which, along with everything else, it's incompetent. But the politicians get lots of votes from those who have no clue.

Right!

Because welfare, aid to dependent children, free health care, bridge cards, free cell phones, rent subsidies, tax refunds that eclipse anything paid in and of course prisons are the more affordable ways to deal with poverty than paying a couple bucks more for a meal at McDonald's.

**401don** · January-21-16, 06:44 PM

When even Walmart realizes the minimum wage is too low you know it must be! You want real value? I had the T-bone steak dinner at Bistro555 at the Greektown Casino Tues. night - $12.95! That's not a misprint. It was great and is on all of January.

**3WC** · January-21-16, 10:28 PM

One should not have to be a McDonald's shareholder to recognize the employee wage problem is having on the restaurant business. Pick any chain. Google "minimum wage impact on chain restaurants" and get some insight. There's a study [[dated by a couple of years) showing 16,500 workers in WI would lose their jobs as a result of a wage increase to $10.00 hour.

I occasionally stop at McDonalds for a frappe; there used to be an employee making all the drinks for the drive-thru and in store consumption. Now, that employee is gone and a small "assembly line" handles the drink orders. A computer command is sent to the "line" and a cup drops down, ice drops in , the soda goes in and the drink comes out and is picked up by the counter person for delivery to the customer. The "line" takes up about 3 feet of space. Two people - one per shift - are now out of work. There are many, many such employee displacing technologies coming on line weekly seems. Read "Restaurant News," the most influential industry trade paper and look at the ads promoting new "labor saving technologies which are not economically justifiable.

The idea that our government, $18.5 TRILLION in debt, running multi-billion dollar deficits, run by tax and spend politicians [[both parties) should be able to tell people how to run their businesses and pay their employees, is terribly offensive to the free market system which until the last few years made the country a world economic leader and which has raised the standard of living of millions, is just another policy nail in our coffins.

**softailrider** · January-21-16, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

When even Walmart realizes the minimum wage is too low you know it must be! You want real value? I had the T-bone steak dinner at Bistro555 at the Greektown Casino Tues. night - $12.95! That's not a misprint. It was great and is on all of January.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm gonna be all over that one night next week.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · January-21-16, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by 3WC

I wonder how much the minimum wage laws had to do with the decision.

In my opinion, minimum wage laws do far more harm than good as for every action there's an equal and opposite reaction. [[Physics and Econ 101).

Just another example of the government interfering in things about which, along with everything else, it's incompetent. But the politicians get lots of votes from those who have no clue.

So you think that lowering the minimum wage might benefit the economy? Perhaps every working person could earn less. Oops, then we won't have any money to buy anything.

Are you aware of the many studies that show that since minimum wage workers spend all of their earnings, an moderate increase in the wage tends to stimulate the economy?

http://www.dol.gov/featured/minimum-wage/mythbuster

**3WC** · January-22-16, 12:14 PM

So, Detroiter..., you think I said or implied that I believe the minimum wage should be lowered? You, sir/madam, seem to have a comprehension problem.

I checked out the link to the Dept. of Labor site as you suggested. Laugh-out-loud funny. anybody that believe that nonsense probably believe everything Obama tells you. There are three kinds of lies in ascending order of egregiousness: lies, damn lies and statistics. The latter are reserved for Liberals and the government.

**Honky Tonk** · January-22-16, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

Ah... Sarah Palin, the "Beautiful Bimbo".....I'd do her as long as she doesn't talk......

I think Trump's got dibs......

**downtownguy** · January-22-16, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

Ah... Sarah Palin, the "Beautiful Bimbo".....I'd do her as long as she doesn't talk......

Does she ever stop talking?

**Hamtragedy** · January-22-16, 04:56 PM

Didn't Michigan just raise the minimum wage for servers to $3.25 an hour? Or is it still $2.85?

**Jason** · January-22-16, 05:00 PM

When businesses make money it's the proud accomplishment of capitalism and businessmen. When businesses fail it's because the wait staff is getting paid peanuts that are slightly less meager [[assuming that is actually the reason which I doubt it is).

They're a small regional chain that isn't very good in a business that has a lot of failure.

**softailrider** · January-22-16, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Jason

When businesses make money it's the proud accomplishment of capitalism and businessmen. When businesses fail it's because the wait staff is getting paid peanuts that are slightly less meager [[assuming that is actually the reason which I doubt it is).

They're a small regional chain that isn't very good in a business that has a lot of failure.

They were around for quite a while, I'd say 25 or maybe 30 years. I remember when you would sometimes have a wait for seating at the Birmingham location, where I thought the food was pretty good. We used to go back there a couple times a year. Compare that to Olga's, where every time I go there I can't quite figure out why after I'm done with my dining experience.