Local restaurants battle declining sales
By Dan Voelpel | Tacoma News Tribune
Saturday night at Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante, you wouldn’t notice how much the global economic crisis has pinched the restaurant business. I had a crowd to squeeze past to reach a speaking engagement for the 75th anniversary of the Tacoma Toastmaster Club No. 13.
Yes, Saturday night still packs ’em in at Joe Stortini’s restaurant. But business in general at Joeseppi’s has dropped about 5 percent so far this year.
And you can’t hide the fact that we Americans – hurt by the economy – don’t eat out as much as we did last year.
Restaurant operators reported a drop in sales for the eighth time in the last 10 months, according to the most recent report from the National Restaurant Association.
“The uncertain economy and rising food costs continue to pose a challenging business environment for restaurant operators,” said Hudson Riehle, the NRA’s senior vice president of research and information services. “A record 31 percent of restaurant operators said the economy is the No. 1 challenge facing their business, while 22 percent identified food costs as their top challenge.”
Some Tacoma restaurateurs have embraced creative, visible survival initiatives to keep the pasta, pizza and suds flowing while they – and we – ride out the economic storm.
Stortini has his Monday Night Takeovers for charitable causes. Pat Nagle and Carole Holder at The Hub will open a 70-person art gallery and catering space this week. Russ Heaton and Dave Shelnut at Doyle’s Public House have reprised their popular “Raise a Pint for Public Radio” fundraiser through Oct. 16
Read the complete story at thenewstribune.com
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