Financing

Bad weather trumps Good Times’ big draw

Photograph: Shutterstock

The drawing power of an all-natural menu wasn’t enough to offset Mother Nature’s wrath during the second quarter ended March 26 for Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard, with same-store sales dropping 5.9% because of bad weather, according to management

Parent company Good Times Restaurants posted a loss for the quarter of $180,000, compared with a year-ago shortfall of $132,000, on revenues of $27.2 million, up 15%. Net losses for fiscal 2019 should approach $1 million because of $1.7 million in preopening expenses for Good Times’ second concept, full-service Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, the operator said. Five of the restaurants are expected to open during the year.

Management was quick to assure investors that business has rebounded at the Good Times brand as seasonally typical weather has returned to Colorado, where most of the chain’s 35 restaurants are located. Comps are up 4% so far in the third quarter, said CEO Boyd Hoback. 

Bad Daddy’s comps rose 1.3% during Q2. Hoback did not reveal how sales have trended for that younger brand so far in Q3. 

Colorado was hit with freakish snowstorms far later into the winter than usual. Bad Daddy’s 26 units have a broader geographic distribution.

Good Times features burgers and other quick-service staples made with additive-free ingredients. 

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Leadership

Meet the restaurant fixer who now owns Etta

Tech entrepreneur Johann Moonesinghe suddenly finds himself leading a growing group of restaurants. His secret? He doesn't expect to make a profit.

Financing

Looking for the next Chipotle? These 3 chains are already there

The Bottom Line: Wingstop, Raising Cane’s and Jersey Mike’s have broken free from the pack of well-established growth chains. Here’s why this trio stands out.

Financing

For Starbucks, 2 years of change hasn't yielded promised results

The Bottom Line: The coffee shop giant’s sales struggles worsened earlier this year, despite a flurry of efforts to improve operations and employee satisfaction.

Trending

More from our partners