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Dear Editor:
I was extremely disappointed to read the article about Ruby Tuesday that appeared in The Daily Times this past Sunday. I am, of course, concerned about the comments from people who are not happy with the changes we have recently made in our menu and dining rooms, but I was far more shocked and surprised that your paper singled out our company and brought embarrassment and humiliation to the more than 400 team members who work at our corporate headquarters in Maryville.
“You can’t please all the people all the time” -- as the old saying goes -- and we aren’t perfect, but we are trying very hard to build a brand that will be as successful in the next decades as it has been for the past 35 years. We began making improvements more than a year ago by bringing even higher-quality food to our restaurants and are just completing an update of our dining rooms and buildings so that we can welcome our guests with gracious hospitality in a comfortable and relaxing environment.
We know there are always differences of opinion when any company makes changes, and we are always listening to our customers and making adjustments and upgrades to satisfy as many as possible. And so it was especially hard to read more than 20 negative comments in your paper in a forum that surely attracted those most dissatisfied. We, and other businesses, know from experience that those consumers who are dissatisfied or unhappy with change are far more likely to express their opinions than those who are pleased and satisfied. I expect that is a fact that you and others at The Daily Times also know.
Developing and printing articles that serve to criticize and negatively single out any company -- including ours -- and that fail to present a balanced point of view doesn’t help build a stronger community. The idea that “negative news sells newspapers” divides people and the communities where they live and work. I am hopeful that in the future our local paper will take more of a leadership role in bringing and keeping our community together and focusing on the positives of what businesses and organizations in Blount County contribute to the quality of life and economic prosperity in this area. We value and respect fair and balanced reporting; we deplore coverage that is bound to do harm and invite criticism.
Sincerely,
Sandy Beall
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Ruby Tuesday
150 W. Church Ave.,
Maryville, TN 37801