Dianne Pajo
Something that’s become a lot more popular for restaurants is outdoor seating. Due to COVID-19, many businesses had to start offering this to stay in business. Even though restrictions from the pandemic are gone now, these outdoor eating areas are still here. And although these aren’t a requirement to stay in business now, you should still set one up for your restaurant. Here are some of the most crucial reasons why you need an outdoor dining section.
Allows Customer Choice
One thing people love when eating out is choices. Restaurants with limited menus and shorter hours of operation restrict the number of choices a person can make regarding their dining experience. The same applies to seating. If you let your customers dine indoors only, that might cause some people to decide to eat elsewhere.
When it’s a beautiful day, people will want to eat outside. Also, even though the pandemic has ended, a lot of restaurant-goers still prefer to eat their meals outdoors. Having proper airflow and improved social distancing makes many people feel more at ease in the wake of COVID-19. Taking away that choice will limit the types of people you can serve.
Adds More Capacity
Another thing that comes with giving people the option to eat outside is more seating capacity. Before offering an outdoor experience, restaurant owners have limited themselves to the space they have within their walls. You could build an additional wing for more tables and chairs inside, but that can be costly.
It’s much cheaper to set up an outdoor eating area. Depending on the space available, your restaurant could more than double its capacity overnight. All you need is some outdoor tables and chairs, and you’ll be ready to go.
Enhances Appeal
The final reason you should offer outdoor dining for your restaurant is to increase the appeal of your establishment. There’s just something about seeing people eating outside that makes a place look classier than normal. And if you take the time to enhance the look of your outdoor seating section, people will take notice.
You can also use this as a potential marketing strategy. In areas with a lot of foot traffic, outdoor dining acts as a form of advertisement. People walking by with see and smell your delicious food, enticing them to stop by.
On top of that, you can use items like banners on your fences or branded umbrellas to better show off your name and logo. When selecting umbrellas, take the time to choose the right one for your restaurant’s patio. You want to ensure they’re versatile enough for your customers to use while still showing off your brand to those passing by.
