| A restaurant can have the most beautiful lounge, | | | | Local knowledge is very important in identifying |
| the most ambient dining room, the freshest and | | | | appropriate potential restaurant locations within |
| most delectable menu items and the highest | | | | your chosen trade area. At a minimum, the area |
| standard of customer service, yet still fail. If | | | | must have a significant and financially viable |
| customers cannot easily reach your restaurant's | | | | residential base, include a daytime population |
| location (or find it) then all your efforts will be for | | | | source, such as a considerable office |
| naught. The most successful restaurants and | | | | concentration, and also traffic generators such as |
| eateries are those that have succeeded in their | | | | a retail shopping centers, tourist attractions or |
| site selection process. Knowing what to look for in | | | | entertainment venues such as multiplex movie |
| terms of location can help you pave the way | | | | theaters. |
| toward a successful restaurant and avoid some | | | | Detailed local knowledge of the surrounding area |
| common pitfalls. | | | | includes factors such as demographics, population |
| Visibility and Accessibility (Foot Traffic) | | | | density, and income. Daytime population numbers |
| In order to go eat at a restaurant, people have | | | | will indicate if an area can support lunch activity; |
| to know the restaurant is there. Your marketing | | | | likewise, nighttime population will support dinner |
| efforts will work toward this end, but location | | | | activity. For these reasons it is important to |
| visibility is also crucial. This is why property prices | | | | include the type of retail and offices located near |
| in downtown districts and developed strips are | | | | the site and the area's overall employment figures. |
| higher than other areas. They offer a level of | | | | Urban Trends |
| visibility that can bring in a great deal of walk-in | | | | The faces of cities and towns as we know them |
| business, also commonly referred to as "foot | | | | are changing, offering new and useful information |
| traffic." | | | | for restaurateurs looking for a new restaurant |
| Accessibility is also very important. The reason | | | | location. Downtown areas of second-tier cities |
| major restaurant chains are often located near | | | | such as Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Detroit and San |
| highways and freeway exits is that such locations | | | | Diego are shifting toward the big-city 24-hour |
| allow for greater accessibility for customers. | | | | model set by cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, |
| Motorists can get to the restaurant without | | | | New York City, Toronto, and restaurants Quebec. |
| fighting traffic or driving out of their way. Most | | | | The good news is that as business and residential |
| successful restaurant locations (but not all) are | | | | populations head back downtown from the |
| easy to find and reach. | | | | suburbs, office and other workers populate these |
| Another important accessibility factor is parking. In | | | | once-barren central business districts during the |
| order for your restaurant location to be truly | | | | day. Likewise, in the evening, residents and |
| accessible, it must have adequate parking. If a | | | | tourists descend, attracted by retail entertainment |
| location you are considering does not have its | | | | venues. Of course, everyone needs a good place |
| own parking lot, it must be near public parking. | | | | to eat, helping you as you choose the best |
| Detailed Local Knowledge | | | | location for your restaurant. |