Special Project: Restaurant Assessment

While all businesses in a district are important, restaurants are the flagships. Why? Because food is a driving force for people. Consequently, good dining draws people to an area. Once they are in the area, they shop.

Understanding this fundamental concept, the 63rd Street Growth Commission launched a special project in late 2009 that is assessing a number of restaurants located in the 63rd Street business district. Our goal is to identify the positives and negatives of these businesses and to offer recommendations for improvement.

Funded by the Growth Commission, the Restaurant Project is using a consulting firm – the Restaurant Success Institute – to take a close look at five area restaurants. The project, comprised of an Assessment Phase and a Reporting Phase, is currently in the Assessment phase. As part of this, the consultants are performing on-site observation of each business during peak dining hours as well as slower times. Attention is paid to each detail of the business, from what the customer sees before they enter, to their experience within the establishment including:

• Design, Layout, & Façade
• Concept
• Marketing
• Customer Experience
• Business Practices

At the close of phase one the consultants will develop a written report of their findings that include recommendations for improving operations, drawings that show the appearance of recommended interior and/or exterior changes, and a cost estimate for recommended changes.

The project is scheduled for completion in April 2010. Once complete, the 63rd Street Growth Commission will begin working with the businesses to prioritize recommended changes and to identify sources of funding to make the changes.

Our goal is to expand this project in the future to include assessment of additional restaurants located in the district.

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