Chicago Magazine has a fascinating interview with Alma Herrera, who had been a partner in the recently closed Rustico Grill in Logan Square. Seeing business dip in February, she helped set up a $50 Groupon coupon for only $20 in April. It helped bring in loads of customers (some 3,600 to be exact), but it didn’t work out exactly the way she had planned. Most people didn’t spend much beyond the $50 coupon, so checks and tips were small. Plus the incredible demand meant the restaurant had to quickly hire new staff. He told Chicago, “People started complaining because they thought the service was bad, [but it was] because we were so full.” The new staff was inexperienced, and customers started posting bad reviews on Yelp. Still, Herrera claims that she would have still used Groupon, “I would probably [still] do it, [but do] a $20 coupon where people would have to pay $10.” [Chicago Magazine]
