The Future of Restaurants
 

Apparently, some restaurant experts think that about 25 percent of the restaurants in the country will close permanently. I think that may also be true in The Villages. In my opinion, the ones that will survive will be upscale restaurants and franchise chain restaurants, especially fast food places. The low priced, independent ones are less likely to remain. Personally, I will not miss any restaurant that goes away. The restaurant offerings will only get better when the Coronavirus crisis is over. I am interested in what others think.

Where there’s a need, there also shall a solution be. Free enterprise will fill a void where capitalism sees a profit.
There aren’t as many buggy whip factories as once upon a time, but there are electric car charging stations where none used to be. Restaurants have been trendy for decades.

I heard the 25% thing too

restaurants on average have a life of 7 years, if they are really good

the chains have deeper pockets than the small business owner...it's gonna be what it's gonna be

I sense that most of the restaurants in the Villages have been struggling, but will come out fine in the end. Why do I think that? Because most of them didn't close down entirely and those that did, did so for only a short period of time. The rest offered curbside service, delivery, and take-out. They didn't do as brisk a business as they normally would, and that's where the struggle part comes in. But they did much better than the restaurants that didn't offer any of that and simply closed "until no more restrictions."

Now that they can do limited seating, PLUS the curbside PLUS delivery, which most of them never did until recently, I'm guessing they're well on their way back to prosperity.

Bleak, and sad, but reality : (

It's going to take some time for any restaurant to show a profit while operating with virus constraints on seating and additional virus related increase costs to comply with new health rules. And, there is increased insurance costs.

Profits were not huge before this virus thing.

The Truth Behind Profits in the Restaurant Business | Nav

The Complete Guide to Restaurant Profit Margins | Lightspeed HQ

Restaurants are beginning to charge a fee to cover the additional expense. It will be interesting to see if that trend makes it to The Villages.

Interesting to see how this shakes out

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There will have to be price increases in all the businesses many have been clamoring to get back to normal.

The business owners now have to provide a sanitary environment to protect us all and their employees.

They will not be in a position to just absorb those new costs of doing business. They will have to raise prices.....restaurants, barbershops, salons, spas and all the other small businesses we depend on.

So we should all just suck it up and be prepared for those increases.
Yes there will be a number of residents that will complain to hell and back about the price increases. The rest of us will pay to retain what has been part of our norm and keep us safe doing so.

Kind of a 'let them eat cake' attitude, eh? Personally, I will only miss those "low priced, independent ones" and feel very bad for the former owners & staff. As far as the offerings getting better, if that means more upscale and expensive, you may well be right. Too bad for those of us that can't justify dropping a Benjamin for a meal out.

Be interesting to see how this shakes out.

We prefer the independent restaurants that we find offer better food typically at a lower cost..

For example neighborhood Italian as opposed to the Olive Gardens or Pizza Huts of the world.

Suspect we will lose some of each category but when things improve new restaurants will spring up.

I think buffet restaurants like Sweet Tomatoes, Golden Corral, and Chinese buffets may be a think of the past. A number of people have said they won't go to those type of places any more. Sweet Tomatoes already announced they are closing.

The latest bail out from congress has. $15 /hour federal benefits for laid off workers . Why go back for less money than you’ll get for staying home . This will also help kill the smaller Resturant’s.

When I hear people say things will never be the same I have to wonder. Remember SARS? It was really scary for a little while then we DID go back to normal. As they say, time heals all things.

What are there added expenses besides mask and gloves.
If they charge an added fee they lost us. Employees always had rules to wash hands and had hand sanitizer its a requirement of there licensing. Gloves were always required in food preparation ever visit publix winndixie subway

I think you might be right, but you need to be concerned, unless you like waiting in lines, not able to get reservations or like eating dinner at 4:00 or 9:00. Because it’s supply and demand, the few restaurants will be overwhelmed.

Actually, I don't remember SARS. Maybe things will go back to normal, but I can't imagine anyone forgetting the Coronavirus.

no problem from me, as for a small surcharge to cover increased costs for PPE etc. We all have a choice, mine would be AOK as long as it's reasonable.

Keep in mind all the firms (airlines, electric and such) that had a surcharge for fuel increases. ..."had" - as some simply blended it into their price. No choice for the consumer.

As for restaurants that may charge this - if you don't agree, don't give them your business.

I expect lots more innovation in restaurants and the ones who come up with the best ideas will survive.
I love to think up new concepts in dining.
It is supposed to be an attractive alternative to staying home.

If half of all small businesses will go under from this .... why isn't the stock market much lower? And have the Morses given all their renters three months free to keep them in business?

Thank you for posting those links to stories. I owned a 84 seat family owned Greek/Italian restaurant for many years. It is indeed a very difficult business to operate for certain. Profit margins were steadily decreasing and staffing issues were becoming more challenging. However It was a very rewarding career serving my customers and being a part of their lives.

Going into the restaurant business was risky before covid-19 with no guarantees of success or profits. All business ventures are a risk. I wish the local independent restaurant owners all the best going forward.

The added costs are the cost of goods sold.

ALL items needed for a food service establishment are being affected.

ALL suppliers have issues with production costs increasing for ensuring food safety.

ALL businesses will be paying more for more frequent cleaning and sanitizing procedures. These procedures are over and above what cleaning procedures were used previously. The jobs they're doing to protect us don't come free to us.

In would rather see new menus with higher prices on them as opposed to a "covid-19" surcharge added to the bill.

Sad
 

I feel very bad for all the independent restaurant owners that do you not make it. They put their life blood into their business and it was their means of income. Sad days ahead for a lot of these people.

Restaurants may begin operating at 50% capacity beginning tomorrow. For a short time that I was performing at Hacienda Hills Country Club, I suggest something that they implemented until a new manager came along.
We would do two shows and have two seating. One seating was from 4:00 'til 6:00 and the second was from 7:00 'til 9:00. The hour break gave the staff time to clean up and reset for the second show.
Now that restaurants are able to open at 50%, if they were to implement this, they would be operating at 100% occupancy.
Of course, it has to be by reservation only except if there were spaces available.

say goodby to restaurants they are on borrowed time

My local Chinese takeout reopened over the weekend, I went Friday night and they were busy. Take out was running about twice the normal "10 minute" and I was one of six waiting and two others pulled in as I was leaving.

If the place is (was) good the people will return when they can. One woman in line was getting 7 dinners and said this was her first take out since the virus started.

The good ones will survive! Wait time will be longer most likely. New restaurants will open up here in TV.

You forgot all the other added expenses back through the food supply chain all the way to before slaughter/garden....then processing....then trucking/shipping.....they will all be passing along price increases of some magnitude which all ultimately hit the end user....the customer.

And the extra help needed to do the after each customer sanitizing and constant counter and doors and everything else wiping.

There are without a doubt increased operating costs in the business of " FOOD" to insulate us all from the virus.

Just presenting the reality of the increased cost of operations for those who work to feed us.

I wouldn’t miss any of the restaurants that are in ,The Villages, let’s close em all and give different places an opportunity.Lets face it if bars didn’t have to serve food, the Villages would be full of neighborhood taverns, with pretzels on the bar.

Time didn’t heal , SARS , a qualified government did ������

That is a bit harsh, there are quite a few good ones here

If you are laid off and drawing unemployment, once you are called back to work from where you were originally working, if you refuse to return you will be denied future benefits. Also if you refuse work that pays the same per hour and benefits that you originally had you can be denied.

Here's hoping that June 1st comes soon. That's the date I've heard for First Watch to open. Being an AVID breakfast eater, First Watch is definitely our favorite. A little pricey BUT always great food. Try the Floridian French Toast and ask for two compotes. Wonderful servers as well (Cara, Barbie, Shannon, Jen, Mia, Rachelle, Deb, etc) great at their job and friendly as well

The ones renting in Villages-owned space will be under greater stress. TV is well known for not budging on rent. They’ll let space remain vacant for a long time rather than agree to less than their asking rate.

Look for some in and around the town squares to go first. Katie Bell’s is already at the top of the list of failures.

Answer!
 

An oversimplified but quick answer is that small businesses generally are not in the stock market.

This just the beginning of the failures. Expect to see a lot of restaurants close and if people do not go out to eat more now that they are open, there will be even more failures. Everything will get back to normal again it always does but there are going to be a lot of dead leaves on the ground first.

I enjoy the Restaurants for the most part in the Villages! How about the employees who lost or will loose there jobs?
Would you rather expensive places empty, because the average person cannot afford the prices, think about it?








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Had a really good meal yesterday at Bluefin Grill & Bar

Servers were masked and gloved, diners were seated at 6' intervals.

As always, service was exemplary.

Given what is going on they might have to cut their rents or look at large sections of empty storefronts