O Briens Sandwich bars in examinership

cherryghost · 10-07-2009 11:20AM

MrPirate wrote: »

The one in Longford was decent. And the guy who worked there in the morning was the nicest person you could ever meet!
It actually re-opened recently... Now this.. :'(

was in there this morning, they expect the place to shut soon.

i didnt buy anything though, i just went in to see if they're closing

Enigma IE · 10-07-2009 11:22AM

Well by the sounds of it, the fundamental issue revolves around the exorbitant rent being charged by the landlords. I do hope some of them have a conscience and review their rates accordingly so O'Brien's can keep going and save jobs.

In terms of the quality of the food and service, every sandwich bar (not just O'Briens) need to up their game, provide good value and stay competitive and customers will return.

JTMan · 10-07-2009 11:24AM

According to The Irish Times ...

its reputation at home was dented when health inspectors found cockroaches in an O’Brien’s outlet in the Stephen’s Green centre.

Says it all.

As to which branches will close, surely one of the two in the IFSC? If they leave the Irish Life Mall then there will be almost no shops left there.

claiva · 10-07-2009 11:28AM

Queen-Mise wrote: »

so the logic is, we buy expensive, low quality sandwiches off them becaure they are irish owned. That is a great business model.

Are centra not irish owned. And centra not having seats isnt an arguement either as o'briens also did takeaway. Not everyone wants to sit down.

Havent been in an o'briens for years, overpriced. Agree with previous poster soup was rank. Although they did do a special cake daily cheaply.

All I'm saying is it's very unfair to tar all of the shops with the same brush. And it's a sad day when we turn on one of our own.
As far as I can recall, they have lower prices for take away food. Lets just close everywhere down and open Kwik E Marts on every corner. We'll have the choice to pay "naffink for naffink" then like our neighbours across the sea.....but then we'll all end up with BSE or worse !!!

I'm off to Greggs for a rubber ham and rennet cheese in dazzling white bread sandwich for 20p.

Somebody get me a bucket !!!

Paparazzo · 10-07-2009 11:32AM

What difference does it make if it's an irish company? They're fecken sandwiches, we're not going to ship them in from china. Another Irish shop that charges half the price will benefit.

super_furry · 10-07-2009 11:40AM

Wow, nice hyperbole. It's not a case of 'turning on our own', it's a case of over-priced, low quality food and poor staff.

loyatemu · 10-07-2009 11:52AM

I think when you toast a sandwich it is considered hot food and is liable to a higher rate of VAT - this may explain the ludicrous toasting charge (though subway don't charge any extra)

while I agree they are too expensive what I really dislike about O'Briens is the utter blandness of the sandwiches themselves - bland ingredients on bland catering-style bread. The likes of Insomnia, Starbucks, M&S etc may not be haute cuisine but they're light years ahead of O'Briens.

partyguinness · 10-07-2009 12:07PM

I always found their sandwiches bland and tasteless no matter what was put into them and then over priced...and those God damn crisps they put on the side...:mad:

Enigma IE · 10-07-2009 12:18PM

Eh? Keep the money IN the country?

Paparazzo wrote: »

What difference does it make if it's an irish company? They're fecken sandwiches, we're not going to ship them in from china. Another Irish shop that charges half the price will benefit.

piby · 10-07-2009 12:25PM

Their food was nice but it was overpriced and the portions are tiny :mad: Also I found some of the staff were so rude, almost as if they're trained to be mindless robots. There's no please, thank you or even a smile out of them so I'm honestly not really too miffed to see them go!

Degsy · 10-07-2009 12:26PM

Enigma IE wrote: »

Eh? Keep the money IN the country?

What money?
They're overcharging,people arent willing to pay it and they're going under.
Its simple greed at the bottom of so many of these failed business ventures,irish people wont be taken for mugs when they're losing thier jobs and getting shafted by increased taxation.

Climber · 10-07-2009 12:31PM

The Moroccan chicken ciabata with pesto and Pine nuts for EUR6 is dead!!

Long live the humble Ham Sanshiwhich for EUR2!

bluefinger · 10-07-2009 12:34PM

I wonder will Brody have to go on to Dragons Den as a contestant now.

You sandwiches are minging, overpriced and for that reason i will not be investing in them.

petes · 10-07-2009 12:39PM

I like sandwiches.

10-07-2009 12:47PM

Degsy wrote: »

People who would rather eat sandwiches than botherto feed themselves properly desreve to be overcharged.

Whats wrong with eating sambos?

Sleipnir · 10-07-2009 12:53PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Whats wrong with eating sambos?

He has a thing about eating sandwiches.
Actually, he seems to apply it to all breaded products.

niceirishfella · 10-07-2009 12:53PM

Its one of the companys that "rose" with the Celtic Tiger and die's with it (albeit a bit slower than the tiger himself which is banjacked a while now"
What other Brands or Co's can we expect to get go down the tube like O'Briens?

Degsy · 10-07-2009 12:58PM

Sleipnir wrote: »

He has a thing about eating sandwiches.
Actually, he seems to apply it to all breaded products.

Sandwiches are for people with no drive or self respect..usually students or fat women who think a pound of mayonaise in a foot-long baguette is healthy in some way.
Panninis are for people who wear sunglasses indoors.
Pizzas are for fat people who like being ripped off.
And crepes...dont get me started on crepes!

IvyTheTerrible · 10-07-2009 01:00PM

Degsy wrote: »

Sandwiches are for people with no drive or self respect..usually students or fat women who think a pound of mayonaise in a foot-long baguette is healthy in some way.
Panninis are for people who wear sunglasses indoors.
Pizzas are for fat people who like being ripped off.
And crepes...dont get me started on crepes!

Not a fan of the old carbs, are we, Degsy?

super_furry · 10-07-2009 01:08PM

I think it's because he once saw David McSavage eating a Subway meatball sandwich.

Amalgam · 10-07-2009 01:08PM

Even with coleslaw, butter, sauces, etc, you were still served up something which managed to feel quite dry in the mouth. Just dullness.

The idea of being directly responsible for long leases, not the franchise, is daft. As a business, how could you expose yourself like that?

Ginny · 10-07-2009 01:17PM

I'd never touch the O'Briens here for lunch, but they do have granary toast + a large tea for €1.85, its the only thing I'll (rarely) buy in it.

ronaneire · 10-07-2009 01:17PM

Degsy wrote: »

Sandwiches are for people with no drive or self respect..usually students or fat women who think a pound of mayonaise in a foot-long baguette is healthy in some way.
Panninis are for people who wear sunglasses indoors.
Pizzas are for fat people who like being ripped off.
And crepes...dont get me started on crepes!

Off topic sorry, but what do you eat then? Bit like a fussy child

bernardo mac · 10-07-2009 02:06PM

In O'B's 3 or 4 times,in Wexford for takeaway.Not as expensive as Dublin.1 to 2euro less [about ]per item.Good quality food and service but not busy.Hope the staff can continue working.Better value than takeaway sandwich in Centra. Re.getting what appeared before me in a fast food cafe elsewhere:"What's this?" I politely enquired. "Your toasted special!"she almost barked.They were obviously under pressure,but I was hungry and now quite angry,the cremation was repulsive.So, I ate the head off her.

Hagar · 10-07-2009 02:11PM

I feel sorry for the staff but O'Briens epitomised every thing that was bad about the rip-off mentality that went with the Celtic Tiger.

Bandit12 · 10-07-2009 02:19PM

piby wrote: »

Their food was nice but it was overpriced and the portions are tiny :mad: Also I found some of the staff were so rude, almost as if they're trained to be mindless robots. There's no please, thank you or even a smile out of them so I'm honestly not really too miffed to see them go!

I've never heard a good word about their food and the one and only time i was forced to eat there i found out just how bland it was.

soundsham · 10-07-2009 02:21PM

sticking to Gloria Jeans way nicer anyway
and does coffee + panini(oh fancy) for €6.50 before 12.30 ammmmmmmm........panini

goldenbrown · 10-07-2009 02:24PM

bloody cares if brody sweeney has a few probs...what is de point of this thread?:pac:

Mr Benevolent · 10-07-2009 02:36PM

claiva wrote: »

Do Centra provide tables and chairs...ie..somewhere to sit down and eat ?
The reason this company are in trouble is because the rentals being charged for the floor space is far too high in the "current economic environment" (love saying that phrase btw) !

Good luck to all of you who eat in Subway.......how quickly you forget.....

Anyone with half a brain can see that if more and more people lose their jobs the country will be in a Depression as well as a Recession.
To see so many comments slagging off an Irish owned company that is in dire trouble is sad to see.
And frankly, its unpatriotic.
Good day sir.

Someone's working for O'Brien's, and they're not on the shop floor.

stevedublin · 10-07-2009 02:42PM

I'd choose a meal in O'Briens over McDonalds.

O Briens Sandwich bars in examinership

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