From ingredient sourcing to staffing and supply issues, there are several reasons chain restaurants don’t always perform as well in smaller markets compared to major metro areas. Chain Restaurants Depend on VolumePart of what makes a chain work is turning tables, and therefore ingredients, quickly. Staffing Challenges in Smaller MarketsI'm going to be a little mean and call out the biggest problem at any sub-par Lubbock chain: the management. Chain restaurants thrive on consistency, but that consistency can be harder to maintain outside major cities. That’s why local restaurants often outperform chains, as they’re built around the reality of Lubbock, not a corporate playbook.