Ensure Your Parking Lot Is Safe for Outdoor Dining

COVID-19 has forced restaurant owners and operators to turn their operational strategies on a dime. After reopening in May and June, the CDC and state governments provided guidance for inside dining, but even with reduced seating, 73 percent of people are uncomfortable dining indoors at a restaurant.

As a result, the industry is seeing a tenfold increase in outdoor seating compared to this time last year. For operators that don’t already have an existing space designated for outdoor dining, this is a challenge. Many restaurants are having to improvise to create outdoor seating arrangements, and typically they're turning to their parking lots … but it can also be a challenge to transition these spaces safely.

To make sure consumer health and safety is prioritized, operators should be auditing lots for quick repairs, adjusting signage to control traffic, as well as taking care of outside factors like city permits and permissions.

Auditing Lots for Damage and Quickly…