WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM RED LOBSTER?

I am an admitted seafood lover.  My favorite is grilled rainbow trout but I also enjoy the salmon I make on the grill (a little olive oil and lemon pepper, thank you!).   When we were in San Antonio over the weekend I chose Landry’s Seafood over Saltgrass Steakhouse.  In spite of my fishy passion, I cannot recall the last time I ate at a Red Lobster.  Evidently I am missing something.  Overnight Red Lobster has become the number one restaurant favored by Millennials.

Yes, you read that correctly.  The 23-34 crowd is flocking to the seafood chain.  Part of the trend can be traced to Beyonce.  I am not a fan (cannot say I would recognize one of her songs), but evidently Millennials are.  Seem Beyonce said the magic words, Red Lobster, in her song Formation.  Instantly Red Lobster became cool.  The seafood chain has also recently upgraded their menu to include “more substantial” dishes and locally sourced food, both desired by Millennials.  Red Lobster has also renovated locations to include communal tables that appeal to Millennials’ social mindset.  A couple of years ago Red Lobster was barely visible on the Millennial preference list.  Now they are on top.

If Red Lobster can turn things around, why can’t the church?  Like the Red Lobster of past years, the church barely appears on the radar for most young adults.  We are not a place most of them choose to visit with any frequency.  Things turned around when one person dropped their name.  I seriously doubt Beyonce intended to start a trend, but she did.  That is the power of the spoken word.  While none of us probably have influence of a “pop star,” we do have potential to have an impact.  Our words and our actions can speak volumes.  In other words we need to spend more time engaging in conversation with Millennials.  Don’t preach.  Get to know them and their world.  Show them you care.

Another thing Red Lobster did was change their menu.   They identified what Millennials wanted and gave it to them.  In my mind there is no more wholesome food than the Gospel.  In other words we need to do a better job of sharing the “Good News” and less time condemning their sins.  Our message of compassion and hope for the lost must be spoken loud and clear.

Lastly, Red Lobster altered their environment just slightly to make Millennials more comfortable.  Again, who should be better at providing a “communal table” than the church?  It starts with the sacrament, but needs to continue by providing a sense of community where issues can be discussed in a non-confrontational or judgmental manner. 

If Red Lobster can turn things around, why can’t we do it?