Opening a restaurant is a time-intensive task. It may seem like you have a million things to do without enough time. While you undoubtedly have a long list of tasks on your plate, there are a few that will require your special attention to get your restaurant ready for opening day.
1. Install the Furniture
One of the first steps you need to take to get your restaurant ready for opening day is installing the furniture. No matter what type of joint you’re opening, it’s impossible to prepare for customers without seating and counters to serve people. When choosing your furniture, it’s important to find pieces that echo the vibe you’re creating. For instance, if you’re going for a diner-esque feel, don’t buy high-backed modern seating.
Another thing to keep in mind when you’re choosing and installing furniture is comfort. If your seating isn’t comfortable, people won’t want to sit and relax at your spot. In extreme cases, guests may even choose not to return because of uncomfortable seating. Whether you’re a diner, coffee shop, or high-scale dining establishment, comfortable restaurant furniture is a must-have. Once you have your furniture installed, it’s much easier to think about opening your eatery.
2. Finalize the Menu
Another step toward your restaurant’s opening day is finalizing the menu. When opening day rolls around, you want your kitchen staff and front-of-house workers to be well-versed on all the dishes you offer. Without their help, your first day won’t be a success. To get them on board, it’s essential to finalize the menu early. Create signature dishes with the help of your cooks and educate the servers on the minutiae of the meal.
Once you have a list of dishes in mind, it’s time to print menus for your restaurant. No matter how top-rate your offerings are, your customers won’t be able to enjoy them if you don’t have actual menus to present to them. When you print your menus, make sure you proofread them to ensure there are no typos or mistakes that your kitchen will have to rectify. A high-quality menu will help draw customers’ eyes toward your dishes and garner their interest from the get-go.
3. Make Some Connections
Finally, you need to make some connections in your community. All the preparations in the world won’t help you if no one shows up on your opening day. The simple way to draw people in for your grand opening is to market yourself and your restaurant. In the months leading to the unveiling of your restaurant, do your best to get active in your community.
Along with becoming a familiar face in your community, you should create a platform online. Even the largest businesses are marketing on social media nowadays. By taking advantage of these algorithms, you can draw in customers from your surrounding community without having to meet them personally. If people know your name and food, they’ll be more likely to come to your restaurant when it opens.
Overall, the months leading up to your grand opening are crucial to your restaurant’s success. With careful planning, you can make your first day a roaring success.
