Summary
The video explains the 1980s trend of Wendy's installing sunrooms (solariums). These additions offered practical benefits like increased seating and allowed for upscale ambiance, tying into broader trends like fern bars and a desire for more comfortable, visually engaging dining experiences. The sunrooms also facilitated the use of indoor lighting for evening ambiance.
Key Insights
Sunrooms were linked to Wendy's strategy to appear more upscale.
An article from 1985 suggests a connection between adding solariums and introducing elements like late-night hours, an enlarged salad bar, and stuffed potatoes, indicating Wendy's attempt to offer a more upscale dining experience.
The sunroom trend mirrored the broader 'fern bar' concept.
This trend aligned with the larger 'fern bar' movement, exemplified by establishments like TGI Fridays and Chili's, which featured abundant plants and a Victorian aesthetic, complementing Wendy's existing branding and decor.
Sunrooms enhanced customer experience by allowing them to see and be seen.
Marketing director Danny Lynch explained in 1985 that people want to see others dining to confirm food quality. Sunrooms increased comfort by allowing patrons to look outside and observe the surroundings, contributing to an upscale atmosphere and facilitating plant display.
Sections
Wendy's Sunrooms in the 1980s
Wendy's restaurants in the 1980s featured distinctive sunrooms, sometimes sectioned off.
In the 1980s, Wendy's restaurants often had noticeable sunrooms, which were sometimes cordoned off to create separate dining areas.
Sunrooms provided practical advantages such as increased seating capacity.
According to a 1984 article, restaurant manager Dick Cash stated that these sunrooms offered practical benefits by providing extra space, adding up to 10 more tables and accommodating 28 additional people.
Installing sunrooms was a significant financial investment for franchisees.
The addition of these sunrooms was an expensive upgrade. A 1985 permit application indicated a cost of $42,000 for a solarium, with another example costing $38,000.
Sunrooms were linked to Wendy's strategy to appear more upscale.
An article from 1985 suggests a connection between adding solariums and introducing elements like late-night hours, an enlarged salad bar, and stuffed potatoes, indicating Wendy's attempt to offer a more upscale dining experience.
The sunroom trend mirrored the broader 'fern bar' concept.
This trend aligned with the larger 'fern bar' movement, exemplified by establishments like TGI Fridays and Chili's, which featured abundant plants and a Victorian aesthetic, complementing Wendy's existing branding and decor.
Plants required sunlight, making sunrooms a logical addition to restaurants.
The inclusion of plants in restaurants made sense for the aesthetic, but these plants required natural sunlight to thrive, thus justifying the installation of sunrooms.
Sunrooms enhanced customer experience by allowing them to see and be seen.
Marketing director Danny Lynch explained in 1985 that people want to see others dining to confirm food quality. Sunrooms increased comfort by allowing patrons to look outside and observe the surroundings, contributing to an upscale atmosphere and facilitating plant display.
Sunrooms facilitated nighttime ambiance with internal lighting.
Lynch noted that sunrooms allowed for the installation of interior lamps, which enhanced the restaurant's appearance at night without violating community variance codes related to outdoor lighting.
Sunrooms are now largely disappearing from Wendy's locations.
Today, these sunrooms are becoming rare. Speculation suggests this is due to maintenance costs or a broader brand refresh, though their original purpose and connection to 1980s trends are now understood.
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