Consumer Trends

Are Mask Mandates Back on the Table for Restaurants?

With COVID-19 cases on the rise in almost every state, it’s fair to wonder if recently lifted restrictions and

Yelp: New Restaurants Continue to Open at Rapid Pace

Nearly 20,000 restaurants and food businesses opened in the second quarter, according to Yelp data, a sign that confidence is growing among industry operators.

What’s Next for Independents as the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Closes?

Before COVID-19, Robert St. John was a symbol of independent restaurant success.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund Leaves Behind More Questions than Answers

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was hailed as a banner win for operators—the culmination of months of lobbying and pleas from decimated restaurants across America.

Coast Packing Company President Ron Gustafson Passes Away

Ronald “Ron” Rieder Gustafson, President of Coast Packing Company (Coast) and third-generation patriarch of the business his family founded in 1922, died peacefully surrounded by his family on June ...

Jon Taffer, Yelp Lock Horns Over Review Policies

Jon Taffer recalls a story about a deli owner who spent money on Yelp.

Relax sign on the window of a restaurant.

3 Potential Speed Bumps for Restaurants on the Road to Recovery

The restaurant industry has rounded the pandemic corner in a big way, with food services and drinking places generating sales of $71.3 billion in May.

The 11 Biggest Restaurant Storylines of the COVID-19 Era

The U.S. is now 15 months into the pandemic. In that timespan, the identity and mindset of full-service restaurants everywhere have shifted in some way—if not dramatically.

Bar top in an empty restaurant with condiments on it.

Nearly 40 Percent of Restaurants Couldn't Cover June Rent

Almost 40 percent of restaurant owners couldn't cover June rent, according to a new report, a stark reminder that the industry has not yet shaken off all the damage from the pandemic. ...

The Restaurant Industry's Recovery Swings Into Full Gear

There was a time when Yelp’s data painted a dire landscape. More than 32,000 restaurants were shuttered as of August 31, with 19,590 of those listed as permanent.