Neglecting the First-Born

We all know that change happens, in fact it can be healthy.  Forest fires opening up the pinecones so the seeds can sprout -- maybe the recent closure of Roots can be seen that way.

But something's been nagging at me lately.  Have you noticed how when a local brewpub opens a new location, that place gets more love from the management than the original location does?  Here are the examples I have in mind:

• Lucky Lab Hawthorne vs. Quimby
• Lompoc 23rd vs. 5th Quadrant
• Laurelwood 51st vs. Pizza Company -- now closed!

Ever since Quimby opened, the Lab seems to do a lot more brewing over there, and consequently Quimby gets a lot more of the experimental beers than Hawthorne, not to mention more of the festival action.  And, while I really love the atmosphere at Hawthorne, you have to say that it's starting to look a little frayed at the edges, while the Quimby Beer Hall is kept a little more spiffy.

Similarly with Lompoc: 5th Quadrant seems to get many more of the special events, special beers, and special cleaning than the old New Old Lompoc on NW 23rd.  Laurelwood loves their new baby so much that they gave their eldest away! To some extent, you could say McMenamins hasn't showered as much love on the Barley Mill or Hillsdale as on some of their newer places, but that seems more like nostalgia than neglect.

Why does the first-born get neglected? A few years from now, what names will we add to this list?