The start of a successful restaurant begins with picking a superb location.
A successful restaurant is the culmination of many fine ingredients, including the food, atmosphere and service. The location, however, is one of the first and most important factors in a restaurant’s success. A careful examination of the features of each potential location, including parking and nearby competition, can guide you into the right decision.
Eye the Competition
Setting up a Thai restaurant in an area that already has six Thai restaurants may make success more challenging to achieve. You’ll have to work extra hard to stand out from your competition. If your restaurant is brand new with no name recognition, scout for a location that isn’t already saturated with similar restaurants.
Parking Options and Accessibility
A lack of good parking options can make your restaurant less appealing to some diners unless your location is in a dense urban area with plentiful public transportation. You don’t necessarily need to have your own dedicated parking lot; even a nearby parking garage or strip mall with an abundance of parking can help. You’ll also need to consider the needs of delivery workers; easy access to the street makes it easier for delivery drivers to do their jobs.
Good Visibility for Free Advertising
A restaurant tucked into an alley might seem cozy, but a hidden location makes it difficult to attract customers from the street. Although a sidewalk sign can alleviate this issue, picking a location with good visibility may be a better option, especially for a new restaurant. Adding good curb appeal, including flowers and benches, can help attract more interest from diners.
Analyze the Demographics
The demographics of the area around a potential spot for your restaurant can make or break your success. For example, if you’re planning to open a hip restaurant catering to young professionals, you’ll want to avoid a location surrounded by nursing homes. Taking a location near a coffee shop and bookstore, however, might help you attract the crowd you want.
Finding the Right Size
Not all restaurant have the same size requirements. If your restaurant aims to offer a small and intimate dining area, you probably won’t need an excessively large location. However, you’ll still need a decent amount of space for the kitchen, food storage, break room and other amenities. Working with an architect can help you figure out exactly how much space you’ll need.
Finding success with your restaurant’s new location takes research and planning. If you’re looking to open a restaurant in western New York State, give Ellicott Development a call today. Ellicott has a wide selection of restaurant spaces to choose from for your Buffalo, NY restaurant.
