Restaurant scene stays hot despite headwinds
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Data: DoorDash; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios
Pittsburgh restaurants on DoorDash were more likely to stay open year over year than those nationwide, per company data shared with Axios.
Why it matters: Some churn is normal, even healthy. But when too few restaurants survive, the local economy takes a hit — losing one of its biggest drivers.
The big picture: Pennsylvania's 26,000+ restaurants are projected to pull in $50 billion in sales this year, up from $46 billion in 2024, per the National Restaurant Association, Axios Philly reports — with Pittsburgh's metro area projected to account for over $10 billion in statewide sales.
- The restaurant industry is Pennsylvania's fourth-largest private employer, supporting about half a million jobs — including more than 106,000 in the Pittsburgh metro area.
Driving the news: Pittsburgh's 93.6% resiliency rate topped the national average of 93%, edging out Philly (92.8%) but trailing top performers like Lincoln, Nebraska (97.3%) and Anaheim, California (95.7%), which had some of the nation's best 1-year retention rates, per DoorDash.
Zoom in: Dozens of new restaurants have debuted throughout the city this year, but at least two dozen have shut their doors in the process.
How it works: DoorDash's new State of Local Commerce report tracked restaurant and retail trends across the 100 largest U.S. cities, analyzing which restaurants open in September 2024 remained open a year later.
Reality check: Surviving a year matters, but closure rates rise over time.
The bottom line: Running a restaurant is tough even in the best of times — and with rising costs and cash-strapped consumers, this isn't the best of times.