Waldo Peppers

Rattlesnake Gal · 07-14-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipper

I have not seen anything official about WPs ownership but reading between the lines it seems that Barbara and Bruce are no longer associated with Waldo Peppers. I thought they were involved with the new location so I am surprised that posters have indicated that they sold the business. If that is the case, when did the change happen?

Last season I was among those disappointed with the service and some of the food at the new WP location. I figured it was temporary while adjusting to the new location. I thought I saw Barbara at the new place thus my surprise about ownership.

If there are new owners they bought a good reputation but seem to be losing it. Too bad

. I hope that they can recapture what was the magic of the old Waldo Peppers.

Bruce and Barbara do not have anything to do with the new Waldo Peppers. They do have a small ownership in the business, but the Hutchinsons have taken over the daily operations.

SteveA · 07-14-2009, 09:03 AM

I don't want to go all ZEN here, but "it is what it is".

We tried the new WP twice. It is flat out horrible,IMHO. Staff is disinteresd, food is bland, and the only good thing is that the have is Jordan's Ice Cream.

ishoot308 · 07-14-2009, 09:13 AM

Been there twice now...My mother always said if you have nothing good to say don't say anything. Please accept this moment of silence... <____________________________________________>

Rattlesnake Gal · 07-14-2009, 09:34 AM

I wonder if the new owners are aware of this Forum?

jetskier · 07-14-2009, 12:24 PM

Given the general lack of caring about their business, I doubt that it would matter. I have tried to send Barbara a private email about all this, but she has not been active on the site for over a year now.

This is kind of a classic. The business gets new ownership and they lose (or don't understand the formula). The same thing happened with the "fancy".

I know that in the beginning Barbara tried to make them understand what they needed to do to be successful. It seems as though she and Bruce have washed their hands of the whole thing. It can't be lost on their management that things are not going well when people send dishes back and orders are lost. You can run a business on a temporary basis that way, but the restaurant business depends upon repeat business in the long run. Every time we go by Waldos, my wife and daughter sigh a "yuck" and we continue on our way. I don't see Waldos long for this world...sad.

Jetskier

Happy Gourmand · 07-14-2009, 12:41 PM

New owners take over a thriving business and think they can just sit back and rake in the dough. Reputation will carry them for a period, but the inevitable ride is down the tubes.
Some have indicated that Barbara and Bruce still have some financial interest in WP's. I wish them well as they try to recover the fruits of their hard labor in building a fantastic reputation. To do so, the new owners will definitely have to step up to the plate and make some hard changes. It doesn't seem like they have the interest or know how to do so.
Sad situation.......

SteveA · 07-14-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Gourmand

To do so, the new owners will definitely have to step up to the plate and make some hard changes. It doesn't seem like they have the interest or know how to do so.
Sad situation.......

TPG has nailed it here. If Barbara and Bruce still have an interest in the new WP they need to be sure that the new management reads this forum.

VtSteve · 07-15-2009, 07:06 AM

I think the Phantom, and the original poster were spot on. Once people got wind of the ownership and operating differences between the old and new WP, things changed. I've been to restaurants that friends gushed about, only to find a rather bad experience. Around here, it's called the "we've always gone there" syndrome.

Restaurants would be far better off if people spoke their minds, instead of hushing up for fear of offending. The bashers on the old thread should be ashamed, and it is Their recs that should be taken with a grain of salt. Talk about an agenda.

07-14-2009, 09:03 AM	#2
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	I don't want to go all ZEN here, but "it is what it is". We tried the new WP twice. It is flat out horrible,IMHO. Staff is disinteresd, food is bland, and the only good thing is that the have is Jordan's Ice Cream. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

07-14-2009, 09:34 AM	#4
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,253 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,455 Thanked 1,357 Times in 476 Posts	New Owners of WP I wonder if the new owners are aware of this Forum?

07-14-2009, 12:24 PM	#5
jetskier Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Reading, MA and South Down Shores Posts: 854 Thanks: 57 Thanked 183 Times in 114 Posts	Would it matter? Given the general lack of caring about their business, I doubt that it would matter. I have tried to send Barbara a private email about all this, but she has not been active on the site for over a year now. This is kind of a classic. The business gets new ownership and they lose (or don't understand the formula). The same thing happened with the "fancy". I know that in the beginning Barbara tried to make them understand what they needed to do to be successful. It seems as though she and Bruce have washed their hands of the whole thing. It can't be lost on their management that things are not going well when people send dishes back and orders are lost. You can run a business on a temporary basis that way, but the restaurant business depends upon repeat business in the long run. Every time we go by Waldos, my wife and daughter sigh a "yuck" and we continue on our way. I don't see Waldos long for this world...sad. Jetskier

07-14-2009, 12:41 PM	#6
Happy Gourmand Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ruskin FL Posts: 1,027 Thanks: 188 Thanked 322 Times in 179 Posts	Sad Situation... New owners take over a thriving business and think they can just sit back and rake in the dough. Reputation will carry them for a period, but the inevitable ride is down the tubes. Some have indicated that Barbara and Bruce still have some financial interest in WP's. I wish them well as they try to recover the fruits of their hard labor in building a fantastic reputation. To do so, the new owners will definitely have to step up to the plate and make some hard changes. It doesn't seem like they have the interest or know how to do so. Sad situation.......

07-14-2009, 09:13 AM	#3
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,341 Thanks: 2,412 Thanked 5,336 Times in 2,085 Posts	Been there twice now...My mother always said if you have nothing good to say don't say anything. Please accept this moment of silence... <____________________________________________>

07-15-2009, 07:06 AM	#8
VtSteve Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,320 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 230 Thanked 361 Times in 169 Posts	I think the Phantom, and the original poster were spot on. Once people got wind of the ownership and operating differences between the old and new WP, things changed. I've been to restaurants that friends gushed about, only to find a rather bad experience. Around here, it's called the "we've always gone there" syndrome. Restaurants would be far better off if people spoke their minds, instead of hushing up for fear of offending. The bashers on the old thread should be ashamed, and it is Their recs that should be taken with a grain of salt. Talk about an agenda.