Chain or not?

OK, the thread on economics brought this to mind.

Take the restaurant Proof. (a) it has always been locally owned, but (b) it was leased/run by the Myriad Restaurant Group out of NYC for the first year(s).

Myriad hired the chef, designed the menu, built the restaurant, wrote the procedural manual, set up purchasing, contracted with suppliers, et al. Yet, newspapers and many in this forum talked about the new Louisville restaurant scene introduced by them.

I don't know who runs it now, or when Myriad bowed out, but was it a "chain"? A local? Some form of hybrid?

Similarly, what about the places owned by BR Guest (NY, with locations in Chicago, Tampa/St. Pete, elsewhere) or Lettuce Entertain You (Chicago, with locations in five other cities), where the goal is to introduce independent locally-oriented restaurants with local specialties yet owned by headquarters.

I can argue both sides of this question . . . just wondered what others thought.

"procedural manual"?
the thought of such sends me running (screaming)in the opposite direction.

addendum-
previous reply in no way associated with Proof on Main.
Just a statement of my bullheadedness.

Soylent Green is people!!

I'm not judging whether a chain or not, but regarding Proof, there are plans for a 21C/Proof in both Austin and Cincinnati. http://www.21cmuseumhotel.com/futurepro ... fault.aspx Is it a chain then?

And wasn't Volare owned by a Chicago outfit when it first opened?

The Chicago investors didn't last too long at Volare if I recall.

I understand this conundrum all too well. We are undergoing a similar identity "crisis." We neither own nor operate any "company" stores. Our entire idea is to create locally owned/operated stores. Our owners are free to design and develop their stores as they see fit to best serve their customer base. We have a few standards for things, but mostly just recommendations and resources. (The stores in Louisiana look and feel very different from the ones here in Louisville) Our focus is on the food quality. We "have" nearly 20 stores now that fly the J. Gumbo's banner, but they are all unique and most are singularly owned and operated. Most of those things say "chain," but I feel we are unlike most of the restaurants that come to mind when I hear "chain." Walking into our store in Gahanna, OH, I don't think you would really get the "chain" vibe.

For me chain is as much about attitude as it is about design. But a true "independent" is, in my estimation, a stand alone venture, usually created and executed to some degree by the owner/operator.