The pandemic has created a rollercoaster ride for restaurants and those who love eating out. First everything was closed, then reopened for take-out only. Then pop-up outdoor tents and structures began to appear, some even in roadside parking spots, to accommodate limited outdoor dining. Finally, in many states indoor dining began with limited capacity and now finally has moved to full capacity.
This continuous change in restrictions and accommodations required to stay open had the restaurant industry reeling. The horizon looks smoother and hopefully business will be steadier in the foreseeable future, but the basic business model may be changed forever.
Takeout and meal delivery increased in 2020 and will continue to be a strong driver of sales in 2021. Not only do people find this option appealing, especially from restaurants that never offered takeout before, but restaurants realize it can help them hold customers who are not yet ready to come back to inhouse dining. Plus, restaurants realized that this option helped them reach customers who may have never eaten at their restaurant before, which enlarged their customer base.
To keep businesses alive, many restaurants set up outdoor dining. Dining al fresco became a hit, even in the cold with heaters, and many customers continued to enjoy it. The online booking service OpenTable reported a ten-fold increase in outdoor dining compared to a year ago.
Ghost kitchens have become increasingly popular. They are professional cooking facilities that have taken over abandoned restaurants or commercial spaces and prepare delivery-only meals ordered online or through a phone app. As the pandemic winds down, it will be interesting to see if this trend holds but at the moment business is good.
