It’s no secret that the outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted businesses of all industries. When it comes to the restaurant and hospitality business, there’s no exception.If you want to start a restaurant, you might be wondering how you can ensure your business stays afloat. Well, the good thing is that you’ve come to the right article. Detailed below are nine creative restaurant ideas to ensure your endeavor lasts over the years.
After all, even experts recognize that restaurants are innovating a lot in response to the coronavirus. If you want to stay ahead of local market competitors, keep reading for some unique inspiration.
1. Consider Opening a Drive-Thru Only Restaurant
The unfortunate truth is that the global pandemic of 2020 set certain expectations. Business leaders are now expected to prioritize public health over profit. Many restaurants are restricting the number of guests they’ll let dine in to minimize potential exposure to the coronavirus.
That’s why opening up a drive-thru only style of food service could be a wise investment. Minimize the space you need since social distancing would prevent you from optimizing a dining room anyway.
2. Only Offer Outdoor Seating
Another way to combat social distancing limitations is with an outdoor restaurant. This is a great idea, in particular, if you live in an area of the country with temperate weather on a regular basis.
This unique restaurant idea is sure to bring a young, lively crowd who love to soak up some sunshine. Of course, you might have to be flexible if the weather prevents you from making a profit every once in a while.
3. Get Creative with Funky Food Photos
You can also get innovative with how you presentyour restaurant’s products online. Think about your local niche online consumer audience. How can you market your menu items in creative, potentially wacky, eye-catching ways?
For more specific details, check out this article on the benefits of social media for any restaurant. Your restaurant’s cuisine, after all, is an art in itself!
4. Combine Eating a Meal With Another Activity
Sometimes, families might like to enjoy a dining experience with a twist. Consider opening up a restaurant in which guests could participate in a specific activity before or after the meal.Examples include art projects like painting, a trivia tournament, or even a round of board games.
Note, though, that it’s not likely wise to expect guests to do an activity whileeating their meals. Stick to before or after the meal so that the eating experience can be a focused and pleasant one.
5. Don’t Forget About the Idea of Food Truck
Of course, a common and profitable restaurant idea these days is that of a food truck. This is great for the entrepreneurial spirit who wants to minimize operational costs and focus on the product.
6. Develop a Speakeasy or a “Hidden” Restaurant
If you want to maintain a more sophisticated unique restaurant idea, consider shrouding it in mystery. Open up a hidden speakeasy or restaurant. Many of these types of establishments can be found in basem*nts or alleys with safe, but out-of-the-way access.
Here’s one interesting fact about restaurants within the United States. It suggests that in the single year of 2020, the industry has already made $170 billion in sales.
If you want to stand out ahead of potential competitors in your local market, you need to find a way to attract top-paying clientele. Having a restaurant that is a bit secretive and that seems exclusive will help you towards that end.
7. Offer Dinner and Accompanying Entertainment
For another way to make your restaurant a bit different from the traditional ones, add entertainment to the mix. The more unique and individual that entertainment is, the more likely your restaurant’s reputation will benefit as a unique spot to dine.
You can feature different local performers on a rotating basis every evening, for instance. You could even make your dinner-time entertainment an in-house themed show like a murder mystery! Don’t be afraid to get creative when it comes to keeping your guests entertained while they enjoy their meal.
8. Don’t Serve Meals – Just a Lot of Finger Foods
Perhaps you’re interested in unique restaurant ideas in which you don’t serve the common full course menu. Instead, you can develop a rotating way to serve various finger foods throughout the restaurant.
You can have your servers go around to all of the tables with trays full of your place’s top finger foods. Instead of charging for each individual meal, you’d make profits by charging admission.
This is a great way to allow guests to try multiple different dishes in one visit. Plus, it’s unique enough to stand out compared to other traditional restaurants in your local area.
9. Get Wacky with a Restaurant-Wide Aesthetic Theme
The last unique restaurant idea you need to know about involved decorative themes. For example, do you have a favorite sports team, a favorite decade of pop culture, or even a favorite television show? Other great ideas include decorating according to amusem*nt parks, natural landscapes, or even commonly seen movies.
Don’t be afraid to center your new restaurant idea around a central theme that you’re passionate about. You might as well get to enjoy the atmosphere yourself. Feel free to get down to even the finer details of your restaurant’s decor to stay consistent with that overall theme.
Make the Most of the Above Innovative Restaurant Ideas
By this point, you’re familiar with today’s restaurant ideas with the most potential to grow profit margins. You’re prepared to invest in a unique way to grow your customer base in the long run.
That’s why we encourage you to browse through the rest of our website today. We prioritize helping business leaders like yours make successful, profitable investments in their work.
On our blog, we offer the latest trends in restaurant marketing and sales. To start, check out more details about our restaurant digital marketing services available to your organization now.
