The Olive Garden Crashes the Party of Restaurants on Route 1

The portion of US Route 1 in Woodbridge and Edison is home to a plethora of restaurants -- both franchised ,chain, establishments and million-dollar small businesses. Recently the Olive Garden's 6-year project was completed; and the newest New Jersey Olive Garden was launched. Though the restaurant is located in the Woodbridge Center Mall's parking lot, it will challenge the establishments located directly on the interstate route.

Dispite the plethora of competition -- restaurants such as: Red Lobster, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Kona Grill, The Bonefish Grill, and Yu Yee Sushi to name a few; the Olive Garden will rack in profits. Many individual's have questioned the franchise's choice to locate there newest establishment in an area so densly populated with other popular restaurants; however, I am not one of these people. There are enough willing patrons in the greater Woodbridge-Edison area to sustain another restaurant. Morely, the Olive Garden, unlike its competition, is located in the parking lot of one of the two nearby malls. This will attract many of the individuals whom shop at Woodbridge Center -- offering them a more convenient location to dine -- and avoiding the inconvenience of driving through the densley populated area and making numerous u-turns to access restaurants located on the other side of Route 1 (particullarly Kona Grill, The Bonefish Grill, and Red Lobster).

Furthermore, the Olive Garden is a well renowned; a nationally recognized brand that patrons tend to love; of the competition, only Red Lobster shares this claim. Another reason why the Olive Garden will attract more business than other nearby restaurants is that the Olive Garden attracts individuals of all races. County statistics prove that Asian-Americans and African-Americans do not patronize many of the restaurants located on Route 1. Furthermore, national statistics prove that only Red Lobster (of the nearby restaurants) appeals to these two groups of consumers -- that is until now. The Olive Garden attracts a disproportionate number of both Asian-American and African-American customers, and will attract these two large groups of consumers -- consumers whom do not currently patronize the other restaurants in the area. If statistics aren't enough to sell you on this point, dine at either of the two Olive Gardens located within a 25 mile radius of the new establishment. Both the East Brunswick and Piscataway Olive Gardens consistantly serve Asian and African Americans -- a claim that other nearby restaurants can not make.

According to the franchise the average Olive Garden in the Tri-state area clears over six million dollars gross domestic product annually -- a staggering amount for a chain restaurant. In my opinion, the particular location of this Olive Garden makes it a lock to clear over nine million dollars annually. Seven years ago, the Cheesecake Factory opened in Menlo Park Mall's parking lot; and the circumstances were similar. The Cheesecake Factory cleared $16 million in its first year, and has posted ridiculous numbers each year since. The Olive Garden will be the new Cheesecake Factory.

This is the best culinary-based business investment made this year, in Middlesex County. The Olive Garden will mop the floor with local restaurants -- restaurants that won't be able to call themselves competition in another year. Even Jose Tejas (the county's most lucrative restaurant) should be alarmed. Though the two restaurants attract very different crowds, the Olive Garden is less than 1/8 of a mile away from the Mexican gugernaut, and will pose a serious threat.