Americans are eating out less as inflation weakens the dollars in their pocket, which is leading to some harsh consequences for restaurants across the country.

Visits to sit-down restaurants were down nearly five percent in 2023 from the year prior, according to location analytics firm Placer.ai. 

Even big metropolitan areas in the US known for their great dining spots are struggling to maintain an environment where it’s profitable to run a restaurant. 

Eater NY reported that over 40 bars and restaurants closed in New York City from December 2023 to January 2024, with some of the owners saying business simply never picked up after the COVID lockdowns in 2020.

But in a city where it would take a person over 22 years to eat at every single restaurant, the problem isn’t as pronounced. 

n middle America, where there are fewer people and household incomes are lower, almost all restaurants are feeling the pressure of empty seats.

Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines, for example, has seen many restaurants close because of lower foot traffic. Establishments are of course aware of this but so are the remaining restaurant regulars.

Abby Sheffer, a law student at Drake University, told local station KCCI that she and her friends have noticed ‘there’s a lot less people.’

‘We went to the barbecue place down the road, and we were the only ones in there. And it was like that for two and a half hours,’ Sheffer added. 

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