As the grandchild of restaurant owners in Dallas, Texas, I grew up in the restaurant industry. I remember cleaning off menus, seating guests, and manning the cash register during summers as a young child. While I was at the restaurant, I took note of the various things my grandfather managed (payroll, suppliers, pricing, marketing). Nevertheless, most of his conversations sought to answer the question, “How do I bring in more customers to my restaurant?”.

With such experiences, it is safe to say that I understand the plight of the restauranteur. Above all else, I have seen the industry undergo a dramatic shift in the past five years, which affects restaurants nationwide. As explained in our previous blog article on restaurant marketing tips, long gone are the days of individuals walking through your door after spotting your restaurant on the street. If you are starting a new restaurant, then you are in a uniquely difficult position. Therefore, the rest of this article seeks to explain to you how to bring in more customers to a restaurant.

More than anything, what separates you from a seasoned restauranteur is that you lack the public awareness and media infrastructure necessary to successfully launch a new restaurant. Having a “build it and they will come mentality” simply will not cut it in the restaurant industry anymore. Nevertheless, the tips offered throughout this article are equally useful to seasoned and new restauranteurs alike. Therefore, which one you are does not matter. After all, you, like all other restauranteurs, want to bring in more customers to your restaurant.