With countless restaurants and cafe’s, the ones that are multi-story to the tiny drive through kiosks, the residents of Qatar are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out. The proliferation of takeaway places can mistakenly be equated to them being the ‘street food’ in Qatar.
So it is really hard to imagine that a food concept concept in a country where eating out is considered a form of entertainment to have any food concept failures. Yet, you’d be surprised to know (as we were) that brands despite being popular in countries where they first started have failed to make a mark in Qatar.
This list below serves as a historical archive and a knowledge base for any other entrepreneurs that might be considering bringing back these franchises to Qatar again.
Failed Franchises in Qatar : American/Canadian Chains
A&W, Al Sadd, Al Hilal – Home of the Rootbeer float, pure Halal bar food, was located in Al sadd before shuting down.
Arby’s, Ramada Junction and City Centre Mall.
Argo Tea, Landmark and The Gulf Mall
Auntie Anne’s, Mall of Qatar
California Tortilla, Multiple Locations
Dean and Deluca, Villaggio Mall
IHOP, Gulf Mall
Gold Star Chilli, Ramada Junction, Hot Dogs were prominently featured here.
GRK fresh greek, Mall of Qatar and Doha Festival City
Little Ceasers, Al Nasr, Ramada Junction
MBCo Brasserie, Multiple locations
Nestle Toll House, Multiple locations
New York Fries, Mall of Qatar
Pizza Inn , Multiple locations Twice Entered, twice failed.
Popeyes Louisiana Chicken – Twice Entered, twice Failed (despite their tasty American biscuits), Where in the USA, fights broke over and people got stabbed, the chain didn’t have enough spinach to feed popeyes to be a success.
Red Lobster, Bin Mahmoud. Unfortunately for them, the best thing on their menu were the welcome American biscuits that they served for free.
Sbarro, Multiple locations – Twice Entered, twice failed- Their speciality were stuffed pizzas (savoury pie’s) and NY slices.
Spicy Pickle, The Gate Mall.
Taco Bell, Ramada Junction, America’s largest tex-mex franchise, couldn’t stir up the heat with its Chilli.
The Melting Pot, Bin Mahmoud, A fondue restaurant, that got melted along with its cheese.
800 degrees, Doha Festival City.
Failed Franchises in Qatar – European Chains
Bert’s, Lagoona Mall, The Pearl Qatar.
Cafe Barbera, Dar Al Salam Mall.
Caffe di roma (City Centre Doha, Lagoona Mall).
Dalloyau, The Pearl Qatar
Dum Dum, Tornado Tower.
Filcori Mall of Qatar, Doha Festival City- Although the cafe’s shut down, the coffee is still served at all Monoprix cafe locations.
Harry Ramsden’s The Pearl Qatar.
Hediard, Salwa Road.
Hippopotamus, City Centre Doha Mall.
Le Pain Quotidien Villaggio, Mall of Qatar, Doha festival city – Twice entered, twice failed. People don’t like Organic food?.
Lenotre, Ramada Junction, Al Sadd and Villaggio mall.
Mango Tree, The Pearl Qatar.
Laderach, Landmark mall
Richoux, City Centre Mall
Southern Fried Chicken, Al Wakra Petrol Station.
The Bagel Bar and Coffee House, West Bay.
Wafflemeister ( Lagoona Mall, Doha Festival City)
Failed Franchises in Qatar – Asian/Australian Chains
Gloria Jeans, Al Mana Towers – This massive coffee chain from down under, went down under in Qatar.
Marrybrown, Al Nasr and Al Muntazah – Malaysia’s answer to KFC.
Patissez, Doha Festival City , – Shut January 2021
Tom n Toms Coffee, Tawar Mall – This was the first Korean franchise cafe in Qatar
TWG Cafe, Mall of Qatar
Do you think that we missed any other international franchises that failed in Qatar and miss going to? Let us know in the comments section below
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