Summary
A study by economist Maxim Massenkoff and sociologist Nathan Wilmers suggests that casual-dining restaurants like Applebee's might help bring Americans from different social classes together. These restaurants are identified as one of the few places where people from various income levels overlap, in a nation where other social spaces are less effective at mixing different classes.
Key Facts
- A study in 2023 examined how casual-dining restaurants might bridge class divisions in the U.S.
- Researchers used location data from mobile devices to track where people from different incomes gather.
- The study found that places like Applebee's are among the few shared spaces for diverse income groups.
- Unlike highly localized places, these restaurant chains attract customers from across town.
- Other social spaces like parks, libraries, and churches are less effective at mixing classes due to geographical and socioeconomic segregation.
- Many Americans now spend more time alone than ever before, as reported by a 2025 cover story in The Atlantic.
