How has the week thus far been for restaurant owners? I live in a super tourist area (Fl Keys) and as of right now business has been crap. Not blaming customers as I don’t eat out either, but holy hell so far everyone is splitting meals it seems this year or skipping dining out (understandable with expenses being nuts these days). Usually open Thanksgiving but closed this year as it’s just been way too slow and not worth opening. I’m not sure if people are just straight up in denial, but it definitely isn’t looking good here. People keep telling me it’s fine it’ll pick up, but 5 yrs in working everyday things are very different now and not buying the “it’ll pick up”… hopefully someone can prove me wrong? 🤣
I live in key west, so “Florida problems” don’t really exist here as we are an island 120+ miles from actual Florida. Huge lgbt population, left leaning area, so it’s hard to compare actual Florida to the reality here and most people know that. But, our inflation rate is higher than Miami which is the highest, we just don’t get included bc we are an island chain.