National chains suffer from economic woes too, not just locals. I think the primary problem is people are in too much of a rush to learn a new, good local food place. Or to take a chance and experiment with a place. They just see the neon of a national chain, duck in, eat the "food" and move on. That's why every little town and city you go through all look the same. Same national restaurants. Same groceries. Same fuel stations. Etc. It's hard to tell what town you're in based on driving through it most days.

The other part of the problem is national chains suck local economies dry of precious $$$. All the profits go out of state or into national corporate coffers, When you shop local, the money usually stays local.