HUNTINGTON BEACH Calif. Blaming the economy and higher costs, BJ's Restaurants Inc. on Thursday reported a 12-percent drop in net profit for the second quarter ended July 1 to $2.9 million, or 11 cents a share, though revenues rose 16 percent to $92.2 million.
The casual-dining/brewhouse chain's same-store sales rose 0.6 percent, on top of a 7.5-percent second-quarter jump last year that was BJ's biggest quarterly increase since 2004, it noted.
Among BJ's initiatives for the first half of the year included the launch of a curbside cashiering service, call-ahead seating, expanded delivery, new lunch specials, enhanced happy hours and more print media support for new entrees. In the second half of the year, BJ's said it planned to feature online ordering, new entrees, seasonal beers and an updated wine program.
