Features

— By Scott Stewart & Jack French — Reduce energy usage this winter without leaving your customers in the cold. As the cold months of winter set in, restaurant owners and chain store facility managers are tasked with the dual challenge of maintaining a warm and inviting ambiance in their establishments and managing energy costs effectively. This balancing act is essential for creating a comfortable customer environment while ensuring operational efficiency. This article offers a winter weatherization guide with practical tips designed to help prepare your restaurant for the colder …

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Peter Tsanacas Facility Maintenance quote

It’s another thing for restaurant operators to worry about: all the costs of doing business, including food, rent, labor and energy are increasing, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry survey, released in February. It’s bad news for any business operating on razor-thin margins. Restaurant operators complain that they have little control over food and rent costs, while the need to remain competitive often blocks operators from making cuts in staffing and food. The situation forces restaurant owners, and other businesses such as retail, to …

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— By Russ Spencer — Strategies for restaurants in an evolving landscape. A new year symbolizes new beginnings, particularly within the restaurant industry’s evolving landscape. While some trends may persist from the previous year, Q1 presents an opportunity to reset, recalibrate and plan strategically. These include, but are not limited to, updating menu items, solving staffing challenges and implementing improved ways to reduce waste. Operators who focus on the trends shaping this year and pounce on them will get ahead of competitors and run a successful restaurant in 2024. Preparing …

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— By Katie Lee — Coming off a strong year of growth, pizza legend Papa Johns takes its ‘dough show’ on the road, both domestically and abroad, with a brand-new look. The best, by definition, outshine the rest — but some years the best outshines even itself. 2023 was one of those years for Papa Johns. Founded four decades ago in Louisville, Kentucky, the pizza legend notched a great year in 2023, a year that finished as one of its best for new North America store openings in the past …

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— By Glen Greenawalt — 3 hospitality employment challenges facing the industry today. It’s ironic that “Down Under,” the 1980s anthem about a group of Australians traveling the world, is by the band Men at Work. In the song, the protagonists clearly are not working — just like much of today’s working age U.S. population. What’s going on with employment trends, and how can hospitality employers get the workers needed to ensure guests get a guest experience? Here are the top three workforce challenges our team sees facing the industry …

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— By Kait Paradowski — How design and art go hand in hand when creating bespoke spaces for restaurants. In a time when all demographic groups, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are increasingly seeking authentic and immersive experiences, bespoke design is providing a meaningful connection between patron and location. Naturally, design and art go hand in hand. Whether it be a large mural or unique branding, bringing in an artistic element allows designers to tell a captivating story for the restaurant and create meaningful differentiation. When it comes to choosing …

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— Interview with Melanee Jech — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Melanee Jech: We are based in the Greater Philadelphia area with additional self-perform locations throughout the Northeast and Midwest using certified partners to further support our nationwide clients. Our branch operations have been in business 40+ years and have recently added our National Service Center in 2022 to support the nationwide demand. R&R: How long have you been with the company? Jech: I have been with the company for just …

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— Interview with Carol L. Carey — R&R: Where are you based and how long have you been in business? Carol L. Carey: Headquartered south of Atlanta, Superior Facility Service Group is a family-owned and operated company, specializing in commercial maintenance, bird control and disaster restoration. Incorporated in 2013, we strive to provide a comprehensive service to meet all your maintenance & repair needs on the national level. We endeavor to meet and exceed your requirements, standards, budgetary constraints and timelines by providing a “Superior Job” at the best pricing …

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— Interview with Peter Tsanacas — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Peter Tsanacas: Colt Facility Maintenance is based out of Dallas but we also have offices in Houston and San Antonio as well as Oklahoma City and Denver. Colt FM has been in business for a year after acquiring another facility maintenance company’s assets. That company had been in business for over 40 years. The new ownership now has over 100 years of facility maintenance and repair experience. R&R: How long …

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Russell Leffers MaintenX Remodeling Quote

It’s going to happen, and any quick-service restaurant (QSR) owner-operator knows it. Sometime not too far in the future, they’ll need a refresh or remodel of their properties. There’s no getting out of it. Here are some hints from two project managers from MaintenX, a provider of HVAC&R, plumbing, electrical, roofing, construction and general contracting for multisite retailers, restaurants, healthcare, multifamily and other industries. They cover key topics like assembling the correct refresh or remodel team, managing the process and keeping projects on track in the face of potential delays, with a …

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