Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful

Many restaurants are breaking with their past tradition of being closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both, by staying open this year in an effort to pick up some extra sales following what has been a tough year. The USA TODAY reported that thousands of restaurants will be open on these days for the first time. Normally a time of rest for both staff and owners, these hard times call for one last push to ring up some sales in the registers.  In addition, some are considering opening for the first time on New Year’s Day.

The story reports the following examples from around the country of restaurants pulling out all of the stops on trying to salvage a tough year:

·         "Mitchell’s Fish Market, which has 19 locations in nine states, will for the first time open all units on New Year’s Day. "It will provide additional revenue given today’s challenging times," says Tom Burmane, operations vice president.

·         Atlanta’s Parish Foods & Goods will be open Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. "We want to capture sales that we didn’t think would be there," says Sean Gray, general manager.

·         In Raleigh, N.C., Irregardless Cafe will be open Christmas Eve and Christmas. "We’re looking for the holiday to give us a boost," says owner Arthur Gordon. Business is off 20% this year, and he expects a 20% drop in 2009.

·         To pick up extra sales, Mom’s Hamburgers, a 24-year-old burger joint in Mansfield, Ohio, will be open Christmas Eve for the first time, says owner Steve Reed.

·         For the past 12 years, the Payard Bistro in Manhattan has never been open Christmas Eve. It will be this year, with a $45 prix fixe meal that would sell for $65. "Every restaurant is down 20% to 30% this year," says owner Francois Payard. "This will put a lot of people through the door."

·         Crab Landing Seafood & Steakhouse in Half Moon Bay, Calif., is 1 month old. Owner Andrei Soen says there’s demand, because "a lot of people want to check out a new restaurant." It will be open Christmas and New Year’s Day.

·         Fenicci’s of Hershey, in Hershey, Pa., has never been open on Christmas. It will be this year, says owner Phil Guarno, "because the area demands it."

While consumers are used to some chains such as Denny’s and IHOP keeping units open on Christmas, it’s been rare for most restaurants — from burger joints to those with white tablecloths — to stay open on Christmas Eve and Christmas. This year is an exception. After a terrible 2008, there is growing sentiment to keep the doors open on Christmas. "It makes perfect sense," says Hudson Riehle, senior VP at the National Restaurant Association. "This is the toughest environment since the early 1980s." "

This is one of the great things about our industry. We are not content to sit back and complain about how tough things are. We can actually try and do something about it. A holiday off is a nice thing. Having enough money to pay the bills after a dismal year is even nicer.

Happy holidays to everyone and good luck on your holiday business. The retailers are not the only ones who need that end of the year boost.