COVID-19 has changed the industry for the foreseeable future, and maybe even forever.
Dining in an igloo-like bubble on the sidewalks of New York City is probably not something anyone predicted doing in 2020. But that’s just one of the many ways businesses have had to pivot in this COVID-19 world. Restaurants have been hit hard by the pandemic ― according to the National Restaurant Association, it’s estimated that 100,000, or 1 in 6, restaurants in the U.S. closed six months into the global pandemic. The service industry is projected to lose $240 billion in 2020.
Moving into 2021, there’s no doubt the industry will continue to change and adapt new measures to stay afloat. That can include increased prices, virtual experiences and even noticeable differences in the age of servers. HuffPost spoke to industry insiders, chefs and owners to find out what they’re predicting we’ll see in the new year and beyond.
Beautified outdoor dining spaces
Some restaurants have had the privilege and square footage to set up outdoor dining areas. But more establishments will have to work extra hard to set the proper atmosphere so diners don’t just feel like they’re having a meal on the sidewalk or a parking lot, said Dan Rowe, the CEO of Fransmart, a franchise development company behind the likes of Five Guys, The Halal Guys and more.
It’s key to have “an outdoor area that looks and feels like inside,” he told HuffPost. He cited celebrity-favorite Brooklyn Chop House in New York as an example, as the restaurant was “able to convert several outdoor parking spaces into tented and heated seating that still very much feels clubby, hip, and on-brand.”