Nationwide, about 32 million people — nearly 70 percent of the Americans who said they expect to hit the stores on Black Friday — are expected to dine out sometime during their shopping trip, according to the National Restaurant Association.
“For us, Black Friday marks the beginning of the crazy busy season,” said Glen Brailey, owner of Spinoza’s Pizza & Salads in the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek. “Longer hours of operation, irritable guests, stressed staff members, and non-stop pizza making are all balanced against the goodwill and cheer of the season.”
Jarrod Clabaugh, the Ohio Restaurant Association’s communications director, said the month of December “has historically been a very important month for Ohio’s restaurant industry. Restaurants often expect an uptick in sales due to increased travel patterns related to both the holiday season and from hungry shoppers looking for a convenient dining option.”
Some Dayton-area restaurants expand their hours to take advantage of the season. Jay’s Restaurant in Dayton and Carvers Steaks & Chops in Washington Twp. will open for lunch on weekdays in December — both restaurants are normally closed at lunchtime — and Hawthorn Grill in Kettering will expand its hours in December to be open Mondays and Saturdays for lunch and dinner.
“We do a lot of business, because people look at it as a special occasion, plus we host a lot of business parties,” said Amy Haverstick, co-owner and general manager of Jay’s.
Hudson Riehle, senior vice president for the National Restaurant Association, said many of those diners will further add to restaurants’ bottom line by purchasing restaurant gift cards.
Some Dayton-area restaurants are offering gift-card incentives: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Beavercreek, for example, gives purchasers of $100 in gift cards a complimentary $20 gift card, said Aimee Hartke, the restaurant’s operating partner.
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