Americans Are Finally Dining Out Again In These States

Although the pandemic isn't technically over, consumer behaviors have begun to return to their pre-pandemic levels, and the full extent of COVID-19's impact on the restaurant industry is becoming clear. According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, more than 3.1 million jobs in the restaurant industry alone have been lost as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to this staggering figure, the economic downturn caused by mandatory stay-at-home orders has forced a projected 100,000+ restaurants to close their doors for good. 

In an attempt to overcome the ecomonic effects of lockdowns, many restaurants used the pandemic as a time to introduce creative measures to help guests social distance while enjoying their meals. Some eateries even created purpose-made "igloos" or inflatable domes designed to safely encapsulate each party from the outside world and other guests while they ate. Even though dining inside an inflatable structure would have been unheard of pre-pandemic, in mid-2020, many patrons appreciated the small taste of normalcy. 

Although the changes made to dining out over the past few years have changed certain aspects of the restaurant industry forever, almost three years on, reports are finally in that diners in certain states are slowly making their triumphant return to in-person dining. 

While it was once believed that the restaurant industry might never fully recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent data from Wise Voter suggests that may not be the case. The data compares the number of restaurant visits in US states from December 2020 and 2022 to gain insight into the kinds of trends the industry can expect in the post-pandemic era. 

According to the data, Colorado and New Mexico saw the largest increases in the country, with a 91% and 90% uptick, respectively. A report by Restaurant Business also reported that as many and 77% of American diners planned to utilize restaurants for at least part of their winter holidays, a fact that may very well reflect the public's desire to return to pre-pandemic comforts. 

In addition to restaurant data, the same Wise Voter report also complied data regarding the return of grocery store, fitness center, and salon visits in the years since the pandemic began. The striking results make it clear that while other industries are seeing a relative increase in visitors, restaurants are leading the charge in America's return to post-pandemic normal.