Food for Thought as Restaurants Reopen Safely

With more relaxed phases of COVID-19 restrictions going into place around the country, restaurant-goers can once again enjoy the delicious meals they've been missing over the past few months. However, in the interest of public safety, they'll also notice that things will be happening a bit differently for a while.

Stay-at-home orders and other community-specific guidelines have prompted restaurants nationwide to get creative with their daily operations. Many dine-in restaurants quickly added curbside pickup and delivery options to their business models, and we can expect many of those offerings to remain in place even as things continue to open up.  

Diners will also notice a variety of strategies for minimizing risk, many of which will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Here are some of the ways restaurants are adapting while continue to create comfortable branded experience for their customers.

Protective Equipment

Plastic shields have emerged as one of the most effective and implementable solutions for preventing the spread of airborne disease. Branded face shields are an easy way for restaurants to protect employees and customers while also allowing them to enjoy the human interaction that makes eating out so enjoyable. Standalone options like sneeze guards and counter shields are a great way to provide semi-permanent barriers in places of high interaction.

External Graphics

With new guidelines in place just about everywhere, customers will be keen on knowing how to navigate your space their first time back. Communications in the form of sidewalk graphics, window messaging, and standalone signs will provide them with the information they're looking for, whether it's for curbside pickup or their first time back.

Outdoor seating is also a great way to maximize capacity while respecting distance. Waiting areas and aesthetically pleasing blockades will allow you to create customizable seating arrangements that follow social standards.

Internal Graphics

Keep customers feeling safe and informed as they enter the restaurant and take a seat. Wall and floor graphics are a perfect way to transform your space while staying on-brand, and diners will appreciate anything that helps them comfortably enjoy their meal without confusion. Pay special attention to high-traffic areas like counters and entryways, but also extend these efforts to places like restrooms and tabletops. When a customer sees you're taking every precaution to maximize their safety, you can be sure they'll be back.

Want to see some of these great solutions in action?