Stop by your favorite neighborhood restaurant and you will see that many consumers have altered their dining habits in major ways these last few years. In most restaurants, a serious lack of in-store patrons is immediately apparent. There is a myriad of factors that have contributed to this trend including the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased reliance on online shopping, and many other factors. However, another contributing factor that cannot be overlooked is the fact that many food and beverage establishments are not designed to be enticing and inviting to a modern audience within retail design.
Retailers Must Integrate Food and Beverage Options to Remain Relevant
Retail stores and restaurants can and should work together to contribute to each other’s success. https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/ explains:
Retailers are turning to food and beverage and hospitality concepts to enhance their spaces. The retail storefront is no longer just about leaving with goods in hand. Rather, it is a physical manifestation of a brand and a way for potential customers to experience the brand and its products in person.
This is one area where in-person retailers still have an edge over online stores. They can provide food and beverage options and the possibility for consumers to handle the products they are considering before putting up their own money to make the purchase. To continue to compete with online retailers, traditional retailers must consider the kind of dining options that they provide to their customers.
How to Showcase Food and Beverage Options Within Retail Design
The creation of a space where customers will enjoy their retail shopping experience should include thought given to food and beverage options to be made available to the customers. The following are some considerations to make when creating these spaces:
- Relax and Unwind – Customers need a place where they can feel comfortable relaxing and unwinding. Consider things like juice bars, coffee shops, and pop-up restaurants in centralized locations where customers can stop and take a break from their day of shopping. This gives customers the chance to take a break while still spending money and considering additional purchases that they may wish to make.
- Utility Connections – Keep in mind that additional utility connections may be necessary in areas where food and beverage shops are set up within a store. This includes everything from additional electrical outlets to restrooms for guests spending time in those restaurants.
- The Customer Journey – Another thing to contemplate when setting up restaurants within a retail store is that they need to think about the customer’s journey through the store. Knowing which routes customers tend to take significantly helps a planner to determine where the best places are to develop restaurants within the store(s).
These are just a few things to consider before placing a food establishment within a retail space.
Setting Up Your Retail Space for Success
The retail space continues to get more competitive with each passing day. To set your retail space up for success it is necessary to carefully plan the layout of those restaurants. Additionally, you must think about the specific types of restaurants that will best appeal to your customers. If you are concerned about getting those design details correct, we want to help you out. Reach out to use at Ted Trout Architects with your questions and concerns. Our team will be more than happy to work with you to help you create the kind of food and beverage area within your retail establishment to attract the kind of customer volume that you desire.
