chain stores and regional identity

[JCWisc at aol.com]

I think that if one were looking for evidence of the persistence of regional 
cultures in the US one would do better to look for distinctive regional food 
preferences rather than regional chains vending essentially interchangable 
products.  The persistence of these chains in particular regions is probably 
owing to "founder effects:"  they were there first.  In the Milwaukee area, 
there is a chain of hamburger joints called George Webb, similar in price and 
quality to White Castle.  They are sort of a local institution, I suppose, 
but the food is the same as what you would find at similar chains in other 
cities.

Custard, on the other hand--around here, it's a type of ice cream made with 
eggs--_is_ a distinctive regional food type, little known so far as I know 
outside of this area.  Elsewhere, custard is a kind of sweet egg pudding.  
There are no custard chains.  It is sold by a host of mom and pop operations, 
many of them drive-ins, and a couple of larger year-round stores with two or 
three locations.

Although few would deny that the US is becoming more homogeneous for all of 
the usually cited reasons, I think that regional cultures, which are not 
themselves static, are surprisingly persistent.  It has little to do with 
doughnut chains, though.

Jacob Conrad