The economic troubles of the past few years may have put a damper on consumer spending, but industry observers say that through it all, shoppers appear to have maintained a healthy appetite for dining out. Now, with the economy showing signs of recovery, new concepts for restaurants are emerging. Local and regional chains are vying to squeeze in among the national contenders, appealing to developers who want to snag diners with a diverse menu of distinct and flavorful options.
Overall, the U.S. restaurant industry added 2,600 new eating and drinking locations in 2009, according to a report from the National Restaurant Association (NRA), citing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s well off the pace of 11,000 new locations per year averaged between 2002 and 2008, but given the depth of the recession, the growth was viewed as a positive sign.