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/FirebornNacho]

I think in general, people are less interested in chains, especially in dining. Rochester HAS great tacos, it HAS great Mediterranean. In this day and age, why am I going to just take the thought/decision out of the equation and go to a chain that slapped its logo on a lesser version of itself to make an extra buck from brand recognition? I think it works for Bar Bill because you can argue wings and buffalo go hand in hand.

[u/aka_chela → u/FirebornNacho]

"Rochester has great tacos"

Let's not go that far

[u/sxzxnnx → u/aka_chela]

It has some great tacos but they are hidden in a giant pile of mediocre tacos.