'My restaurant can't survive much longer': Philadelphia restaurant owner questions why his restaurant is failing, internet uncovers the baffling reasons why

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 27, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

No one ever said running a restaurant was easy. Many people dream of running their own dining establishment, but there is so much work that goes into operations. 

One restaurant owner from Philadelphia took to the internet to do a little complaining about his restaurant's lack of success. But it turns out there are quite a few reasons that customers aren't exactly flocking to the place. To start, the restaurant is in a supermarket. Nothing wrong with that. There are plenty of mega-grocery stores that have Subways or Starbucks inside them, and plenty of people will utilize that during their trip. However, these establishments are usually right by the front of the store, and they usually have a separate section all to themselves so that guests know that they're in a clearly demarcated, standalone shop. This dude's restaurant is located in what looks like the middle the grocery store, with no clear name sign to indicate that it even is a restaurant. It looks more like the deli section! There don't appear to be any chairs. And that's just the beginning of the fiasco… 

As internet sleuths tried to help this dude, a pile-on began. Now, the guy's website is full to the brim with jokey reviews. In fact, one person realized that there was no character limit to the reviews section, and noted that people have been posting full movie scripts just because they can. Check out the whole tale below and see the insanity for yourself! 

Next, read the update from the person whose neighbor tried to steal their property space, only to lose 5 feet of her own yard: "Update: She had a fence built." 

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  • 01
    Woman in pink shirt showing man in blue hoodie her phone while they eat at restaurant
    via Yunus Tuğ For Unsplash+

    If you could live anywhere in the entire world, where would you choose?

  • 02

    This restaurant owner is frustrated, and here's why:

    For the last 7 months, I've been doing all that I can to make this restaurant successful. Maybe our food isn't good, but we bring in around $50-$125 per day being open for 7-8 hours. It's unsustainable and I have my first child on the way.
    via @Tallow__
  • 03

    Homemade ketchup?

    I've poured every penny I have into this. Thinking people would want a restaurant that serves everything that's made from scratch. Including sauces, ketchup, etc.
    via @Tallow__
  • 04
    Avoiding seed oils, high fructose corn syrup, fillers, preservatives and more and still being affordable to today's standards.
    via @Tallow__
  • 05
    My restaurant can't survive much longer. We're out of cash and $30k in debt. I followed my passion, and people continue to think I'm crazy for this.
    via @Tallow__
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10546621696
    via Yunus Tuğ For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 07
    If you'd like to see us survive and thrive, please consider retweeting this, following, sharing, liking etc what we post on Instagram and X. (TallowPhiladelphia on IG) I want to see this work. I hate what has happened to the fast food industry and I'm trying to fix it.
    via @Tallow__
  • 08
    My name is Abe, I'm at my restaurant every single day. I'll continue to do what I can until my restaurant succeeds or until they kick me out,
    via @Tallow__
  • 09
    Bob Johnson @realBob_Johnson Man, it seems like your issue is more of location than anything. You're inside of a shop rite and you sell mainly fried chicken in the same shopping center as a raising canes. Your stuff looks good, so I hope it works out.
    via @realBob_Johnson
  • 10
    Willie D Jenkins @WillieDJenkins1 I love what you're trying to do, but a transition to a niche market like that is something you have to do after you got the ball rolling. You can do more to invite foot traffic, but to stay in business, you have to slash food cost. Serve tasty food, make money on every plate.
    via @WillieDJenkins1
  • 11
    a mercury sable @2006Sable Phillys hottest new restaurant is named tallow. There are no beef options. It's hidden inside of a supermarket, and it closes at 7
    via @2006Sable
  • 12
    le_renarde_amer @LeRenardeAmer Btw your website is, you don't have a menu posted, your images look like stock photography and your IG link just goes to instagram's main page and not your profile. You're a marketing genius. probably your business model is as bad. No wonder you are tanking.
    via @LeRenardeAmer
  • 13

    If I saw this, I'd just think it was part of the deli area

    Fire Grilled Chicken Menu AUTHENTIC FIRE GRILLED CHICKEN Famous Side Dishes Mac n' Cheese Menu Collard Greens Meni 2/9.99 taste Tostitos Tostitos Tostitos 5.79 TOSTOSTIOS OSTHO OSTEO OSTATOS Menu Famous Side Disher Sweet Potato Mash Green Beans Tal 2.53
    via @Tallow__
  • 14

    Here are the hours... they literally close at dinner time!

    Sunday Closed Monday 11:30 AM-7 PM Tuesday 11:30 AM-6:30 PM Wednesday 11:30 AM-7 PM Thursday 11:30 AM-7 PM Friday 11:30 AM-6 PM Saturday 12-6 PM Updated by this business 5 days ago Suggest new hours
    via @Tallow__

    No one's saying you have to stay open 24/7, but this is missing the entire dinner rush. 

  • 15
    HTTP Lovecraft @HTTP_Lovecraft This "restaurant" (?) is inside a ShopRite. The sign above it doesn't say "Tallow." It's next to the grocery store's totally separate chicken section??? The website has a totally different name, not "Tallow." The closing hours are insane. This is so funny.
    via @HTTP_Lovecraft
  • 16

    That's a ton of competition!

    kelly @rrroooiiirrr dawg you're INSIDE a shoprite in the same strip mall as a raising canes, a Popeyes, AND a wingstop erg Burger King Wingstop Popeyes Ma Louisiana Kitchen Island Ave Wendy's Wendy's-We Got You Penrose Plaza Shopping Center ShopRite of Island Avenue Save on School Snacks Canes Raising Cane's C Fingers Raising Cane's Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet
    via @rrroooiiirrr
  • 17
    Soft rain @clssicblue Clicked the website, landing page has no menu, address or anything but a sentimental story about how the guy was fat and lost 70 pounds. So i thought maybe it's some health foods, but it's chicken tendies fried in beef fat
    via @clssicblue
  • 18
    A Matter of Taste @chefhealthcoach He is serving wings and it never once says wings anywhere in his site
    via @chefhealthcoach
  • 19
    Karsten ❤ @karstenmfischer Aaaaand the website (for a “restaurant”) has a comments section...
    via @karstenmfischer
  • 20
    it is really funny to be running a website in 2025 that has a comments section without a character limit. forgot to pay your website designer, huh? JONGLER . AUGUST 25, 2025 Why would you open this restaurant in a city? Anyone retarded enough to think beef tallow makes fried chicken healthy is too scared to go into Philadelphia. Move your location 200 miles east and maybe you will find a clientele with a low enough IQ to want this.
    via @karstenmfischer
  • 21
    JOHN @johnholowach There's no character limit! Someone posted the entire screenshot for Blade Imao! 7:53 598 Culture Wal Telarus спеге IS truly no just god in the universe. BLADE by SEED OIL STEWART AUGUST 25, 2025 David S. Goyer Darkness, BLI D-CURDLING SCREAMS. Presentation credits roll as we FADE UP ON: INT. HOSPITAL, INNER-CITY TRAUMA WARD NIGHT It's 1967, the Summer of Love and - BOOM! Entry doors swing open as PARAMEDICS wheel in a
    via @johnholowach
  • 22
    chu cold scorpio @douglaschu_ incredible new wrinkle to the story: there is a popeye's in the same shopping plaza as his restaurant... ...and popeye's already fries everything in beef fat POPCA #9723 Coast Packing #AFFZZB74A050 POPEYES *LOUISIANA KITCHEN + SHORTENING MADE FROM BEEF FAT WITH BHT AND CITRIC ACID ADDED TO HELP PROTECT FLAVOR. 78684 DIMETHYLPOLYSILOXANE (AN ANTIFOAMING AGENT). Storage Conditions: Ambient Net Wt 50 lb (22.68 kg) 73101 0 00 78684 73101 5 POPEYES PACKED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
    via @douglaschu_

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