[retiredguy123]

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.

[P A Paul]

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.

[davem4616]

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

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

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.

[tophcfa]

Bleak, and sad, but reality : (

[twoplanekid]

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

[Chi-Town]

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.

[Stu from NYC]

Interesting to see how this shakes out

[DDVeteran]

😲 😲 😲

[billethkid]

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.

[roscoguy]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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.

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.

[Stu from NYC]

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.

[GaryKoca]

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.

[SacDQ]

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.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by GaryKoca

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.

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.