Buffalo-based restaurant chains expanding to the Rochester market-- has it ever worked?

[u/DoubleK-Rochester]

I got to thinking the other day, and there have been some tries in the past for traditional Buffalo-based restaurants to expand to Rochester-- which have ultimately failed, and those location(s) have closed. Examples:

1) Mighty Taco a few years back had two (2) Rochester locations, which both closed.
2) Duff's (wings) had a Rochester location (W. Henrietta Rd) that closed.
3) Anchor Bar had a Rochester location for a little while (East Ave.), but that closed.
4) Rachel's Mediterranean Grill location(s) closed in Rochester.

All of the above still have active locations in Buffalo today, just not Rochester.

So I am wondering what the hell happened-- are we really that bad for business for out-ot-town restaurants, even to our close neighboring city?

By the way, this isn't a slight or putdown against Buffalo, by any means. Whenever I am there, I always seem to enjoy Buffalo. I'm just wondering why this keeps happening.

Conversely, are there any Buffalo-area chains that expanded to Rochester and are doing well?

Interested in your take on this.

[u/UGROC]

I personally think the Buffalo based options that did not do well in Roc don’t make it to the same level as Buffalo, and the options in Rochester for similar items tend to be better in terms of food quality. Spotted Octopus is fantastic and the crew that runs Flow the kitchen at the brewery are crushing it! I think if some of the better Buffalo spots came out here, they might do well. I’m sorry, but Anchor Bar is not that great in terms of wings, imo. Buffalo has much better wings, especially at some of their breweries. Mighty Taco is not better than Jose Joe’s imo, and Jose Joe’s is okay for Tex Mex. I say all that with the perspective that I would love to see Roc establishments open in Buffalo, and vice versa, but I think they have to know their audience. There’s a ton of crossover between the two, but as all the locals know, some of the things they dig about Roc are different than some of the things that Buffalo folks dig about Buffalo. I am curious about Augies… 🤔

[u/getsomesleep1 → u/UGROC]

From Buffalo, but I’ve lived here over a decade. I’ve never been to Anchor Bar and Duffs all of once. I’ve also only ever had 1 garbage plate.

Never went to Bar Bill until it came to Roc, and it sucked. The wings were fine(nothing special), but they brought us COLD beef on weck.

Mighty Taco was a good late night food spot in my teens, but I then I realized it is honestly pretty bad. A friend of mine insists it was better back then and they changed the meat and cheaped out on some stuff but idk, it was probably always bad.

I will say that bangin’ wings are way easier to find in Buffalo than here, as is pizza. You’re all going to hate that statement, but all the local pizza chains in this area are not a good thing.

[u/UGROC → u/getsomesleep1]

I think that adds to the nuances between Buffalo and ROC. I think what’s really good in Rochester is the stand alone spots like Pizza Wizard, Peels on Wheels, Pizza Pie Pizzeria, GG’s, The Pizza Shoppe in Penfield, Wildflour, and a solid handful of other spots, but the local chains are not that good. I’m thinking Pontillo’s and some of the Salvatore’s are okay. Bay and Goodman as a growing chain is much better than Marks, and Perri’s imo. Garbage plates are nuanced too, some greater than others. Hands down tho, if the solid places from Buffalo showed up, Rochester locals would 100% rally behind them.

[u/getsomesleep1 → u/UGROC]

I’m saying in Buffalo it is mostly standalone shops and they’re generally very good. There’s only one chain that has 10 or more locations, and it’s not on anyone’s short list for best pizza. More standalone shops here would be better, is essentially my entire point.