Let's do lunch — on the weekend
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Our restaurant spending is shifting from weekday lunch hours to the weekends, per new Square data.
Why it matters: It's a reflection of pandemic behavior changes — and an important insight for restaurants as they continue adapting to survive and thrive.
By the numbers: Weekday lunch's share of overall restaurant transactions fell nationally from about 21% in 2019 to 18% in 2023, based on data from food and drink establishments using Square.
- By contrast, the weekend's share grew from about 30% in 2019 to 35% in 2023.
- Happy hour transactions were nearly flat: 7% in 2019 and 8% in 2023.
What they're saying: "There's a perception that consumers are cutting back at restaurants, when in fact total spending has increased. The bigger change is in consumer behavior," Square research lead Ara Kharazian said in the company's new report.
- "Before COVID, consumers were going out more during the week to eat lunch by their office and grab drinks after work. Now with remote work, restaurant spend has shifted to the weekend, and we now see that weekend traffic is at its peak."
The bottom line: See you at brunch.
