Des Moines' nightlife spending hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels
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There are fewer night transactions at Des Moines metro bars and restaurants than before the pandemic, according to Square, which analyzed data from establishments that uses its system.
What they did: Square looked at the share of all in-person restaurant and bar transactions using its platform between 7pm and 4am from January 2019 to June 2024 for its summer quarterly restaurant report.
What they found: Just over 31% of all DSM bar and restaurant transactions on the platform took place after 7pm during a three-month rolling average that ended in June.
- That's compared to 34% during the same period in 2023 and 37% in 2022.
Flashback: Almost 36% took place after 7pm in June of 2019, prior to the pandemic.
- That fell to less than 21% in June of 2020.
What they're saying: Start times of shows and events likely influence the numbers, Trina Flack, vice president of sales for Catch Des Moines, tells Axios.
- Plus, more restaurant business shifted to the weekends following the pandemic, Square spokesperson Ali Snider tells Axios.