In Covid-times, hordes of people moved from cities of all sizes to smaller communities around the country. It’s a trend that we’ve seen continue ever since, and because of it, many restaurateurs and bar operators have started exploring opportunities outside the nation’s major metropolitan areas.
While it’s proven to be a fruitful endeavor for some, many are facing challenges they didn’t see coming. Not only is it becoming increasingly expensive to open a bar or restaurant anywhere in the country — whether in Manhattan or Kalamazoo, Mich. — but some operators are struggling to see eye to eye with their newfound clientele. In many cases, achieving success in these markets is not as simple as taking a restaurant out of a major city. It’s also a matter of taking the major city out of the restaurant.
On this episode of the “VinePair Podcast,” Joanna and Zach are joined by Full Book contributor Dave Foss to check back in on a frequent topic of discussion in the Covid years: restaurant and bar professionals moving out of the biggest cities in America to operate or work at establishments in smaller cities and communities. Is that working out? What’s happening in those markets? And are there sales and marketing opportunities missed by bigger brands and companies? Tune in for more.
Zach is reading: Would You Dare to Drink Italy’s Exploding Lemonade?
Joanna is reading: What Does it Mean to Order a Martini ‘Burnt’?
