Central Ohio restaurants are ready for spring
March 20, the first day of spring, is approaching.
Although spring always brings a renewed sense of optimism, this season feels especially hopeful for the restaurant industry. Ohio Restaurant Association members tell our team that for the first time in nearly two years, they can look up and look ahead this spring.
As the omicron variant fades and people return to their offices, entertainment venues and sporting events, we expect guests also will visit restaurants more often.
We are happy to see the city of Columbus lifting its mask mandate, and March is filled with events historically profitable for the restaurant industry. The Arnold Sports Festival gave Columbus restaurants a much-needed lift as an estimated 20,000 people visited the city. St. Patrick’s Day is one of the busiest days for restaurants, bars and breweries, and March Madness always is in full swing.
The excitement of spring follows encouraging news from the most recent ORA Business Impact Poll results. In January, operators said 49% of their restaurants were operating with normal hours, but that number increased in February to 58% of restaurants now saying they would operate at normal hours over the next month. As sunnier days and better weather approach, we are hopeful this upward trend will surge in the coming months.
Although we look ahead with optimism, restaurants continue to face a labor-shortage crisis, and food costs are up dramatically compared to a year ago. Forty-one percent of survey respondents report an 11% to 20% increase in food costs, and overall, we are facing 40-year highs on annual increases. For an industry with profit margins between 3% and 6%, soaring labor and food costs create a daily struggle for operators, so please be understanding if you see menu prices increasing.
As a consumer, you should be excited to see patios beginning to reopen, some on-street dining will begin soon and we look forward to Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas. In addition, seasonal menus at many restaurants are shifting to more fresh fruits and vegetables, and beverage programs are brightening up with citrus-forward flavors perfect for a sunny day.
As you cheer on your March Madness Cinderella team, be sure to include central Ohio restaurants in your plans. And remember, you don’t need a special occasion to visit your favorite local restaurant. On any day of the week, gathering friends and family to celebrate with good food, delicious drinks and thoughtful hospitality on a spring day is the perfect reason to visit Ohio restaurants.
John Barker is the president and CEO of the Ohio Restaurant Association.