How to Run a Successful Restaurant in a Small Town

If you have a restaurant in a small town or are thinking about opening one, then take note of these tips to make a bigger impact.

Know Your Marketing

Towns typically have two types of people. Locals, and tourists. Locals typically congregate around a few areas both physically and digitally. Physical places may include the local park, church, coffee shop, or library. Digital spaces may include Facebook groups, certain apps, or other online communities. Also, think about any patterns or behaviors these locals may have. You really want to get to know your regulars, so do a huge deep dive into your main audience.

Tourists are important too, although harder to research. But try figuring out where tourists visit most, if there’s a road all the cars drive down, is there other attractions nearby that you could tak into consideration? Take all the information you’ve gathered about your audiences and start strategically thinking about where to place ads, billboards, and how else to get the word out to your audience. Make posts on social media, put an ad in the local paper, hang up signs near the local park, and be strategic with all of it.

Build a Connection

The best way to get consistent business is by making regulars. Those people that choose your business over anyone elses and return time and time again. Regulars could come back for many reasons, but typically it’s because of the quality of food, quality of service, or the lack of alternatives.

Because it’s a small town, you may already have less competition than city businesses. So you need to focus on how good your food is, and how good of a connection you can make with every customer. Make sure you take constructive criticism seriously and put it to use to make your restaurant even better. Add more options to cater to a wider variety of people. Hold high standards for how clean your restaurant is and how the kitchen functions.

Make sure you greet every customer with a smile. That seems like a universal rule, but it is so important. Ask people about their day as a conversation starter. Build a good rapport with people you recognize, even mention you remember them from before. Always maintain a positive environment in the restaurant. Once customers come back a few times, you’ll be able to move beyond the superficial small talk. You’ll be able to get to know people’s names, their hobbies, and generally more about their lives. This is how you transition from simply serving food to customers to serving food to friends.

Be Unique

Offer a signature dish that people can only get from your restaurant. The more unique, the better. Maybe think of something so unique that people will travel to your small town to try. Even take this idea beyond food. Think of unique experiences you can offer.

Maybe you have an under-water themed restaurant that serves the best fish, with a unique and addicting fishbowl cocktail. Or maybe you have fun touch screen tables that offer people a unique experience while they are waiting for their food. Think of similar things that may offer something more to your customers than just the average restaurant experience they know all too well.

Offer Quality Before Quantity

Quality over quantity goes a long way. Sure, if you cut costs on comfortable chairs for your guests to sit on you may be able to give them an extra serving of food. Although, will people enjoy that extra serving of food if they’re eating it in an uncomfortable chair?

Consider investing in furniture that people can comfortably dine in, not the cheapest things you can find. Look into soft reusable napkins instead of the cheap disposable ones. The quality of people's environment is extremely important. Although, even more important to a restaurant is the quality of the food. Try not to sacrifice anything when it comes to food quality. Get ingredients your guests will appreciate. As a rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t serve it.

Stay Active in the Community

Being a small town restaurant means that community is extremely important. Small towns tend to be very close knit, and your restaurant should be a part of that. Contribute things to the community whether that’s just moral support, a dining alternative, or actual charity. If you run into regular customers at the local grocer, say hi to them. If there’s a local potluck or BBQ event, offer your restaurants food as a dish.

Even create your own events to invite locals and tourists to. Host trivia nights, invest in a karaoke machine, host theme parties and holiday gatherings for the community to take part in. Not only will this keep you active in the community, but it will help with all the other tips previously mentioned too.

Small towns can offer a breath of fresh air from the seemingly cut-throat environment city restaurants may have. But there are small but important things to consider in order to be successful. Keeping these tips in mind will definitely help you keep your business alive and well in the small town you’re in.