9 Restaurant Reopening Tips for Success
Restaurants are a big way of life for British Columbians. We love to connect and celebrate over food - we love having other people create great dishes that inspire us. Surveys are saying about 1/3 of our guests are ready to come back. About 1/3 are thinking about coming back if we show them we are COVID-19 aware. The final 1/3 are very hesitant, concerned or waiting for a vaccine.
We have some work to do to make sure that public trust is there and that Dr. Bonnie Henry continues to expand our capacities. By being COVID-19 aware and showing our guests what we are doing differently, we can overcome this.
Here are some tips that we think will help your phased COVID-19 reopening be successful.
1 . Don't try to be what you were before. Be different and be great at it by talking about what you are doing differently. Guests are looking for signs that you have heightened awareness, more space and more cleaning.
2 . Don't just open and expect guests to roll in. Create excitement. Talk about when you will be reopening dine-in on your social media channels and on signage at your business.
3 . Be responsive. Start with limited hours and expand as your guests begin to return. Post your hours regularly on your social media and on signage outside your business. Use sidewalk sandwich boards to update guests.
4 . Connect your menu to your "new" guest profile. Less people are travelling to and from work. Less visitors are coming to our cities as tourists. Think about how you can attract locals, neighbours and short distance travellers with your signage, your menu and your advertising.
5 . Don't be shy about showing how you are COVID-19 aware. Post physical distancing signage and floor decals for counter service, outdoor waiting and washrooms.
6 . Create a combined approach to rebuilding business.
Continue to work on take out and delivery.
Think about innovations in the take out space to accommodate groups of 6 (happy hour packs, picnic in the park, Friday night taco night).
Work on a strong patio plan. See if your jurisdiction is allowing patio expansions and apply. Capitalize on the relative confidence of outdoor spaces.
Make in-house dining feel airy. Spread out your tables to 2 metres between chairs. Open windows but don't point fans on guests.
7 . Make your menus your showpiece of your COVID-19 approach.
Think about laminated menus that can be sanitized, digital menu boards or single-use paper menus that can be recycled.
Use your menu to showcase your hospitality. Suggest beverage pairings on your menus so you have one less thing to hand guests.
Create a feature box that talks about all the local suppliers or farmers or products that you support. Local is a core message for people as all sectors are suffering. By showcasing our regional support, we build trust.
Put a COVID-19 aware statement on your menu with your guest expectations. Thank guests for maintaining physical distancing with other parties.
8 . Create and promote partnerships. Do you have partnerships in the community that allow your business to support others while they support you? Talk about them on social - and make new connections. The local ice cream place may be willing to do a dinner and dessert combo.
9 . Think outside (the box). The more open your space feels with people in it, the better. Create wide pathways to get to tables. Think about how you can make your music and ambiance reflect a chill vibe and contribute to your overall message of building confidence.
As operators, we know that 50% capacity is not where you want to be. We need to get diners back and we need them to be confident to come back. The Provincial Health Officer's orders do help us build customer confidence - even if they don't align with our business plans. They are the law and are enforceable. More importantly, Dr. Bonnie Henry is the face of confidence and our customers are looking to her for direction and education. Take hints from her speeches: Dr. Bonnie loves outdoor spaces. Your business should too.
If we do this right, we can build on our successes. We're #inthistogether.
Send us your innovative reopening ideas that we can share with other operators across the province.