Inheriting a family business comes with responsibilities. Your parents worked hard building this business, and you want to ensure it stays in good books for years to come. You may want to take care of a few things here and there to maintain continuity and avoid confusion. It will require careful planning and determination of the necessary changes now and in the future. Make an inventory of all your assets and liabilities. Knowing all your assets is paramount now that you own the business. You may boost it by upgrading to give it a modern look. Here are some ways to modernize any restaurant, whether you’re inheriting or buying an established one.
Get Your Suppliers in Order
You can always make some changes to help your restaurant stay ahead of the curve and make more money. When getting goods from suppliers, you want everything as fresh as possible because this makes all the difference regarding taste and quality. Ensure all your suppliers are up to date, and if anything is missing from your menu, let them know so they can make the appropriate adjustments. When working with suppliers, it’s vital to be open-minded and flexible, especially when dealing with new products and services. For example, if a supplier suggests something that will work for your eatery, ask questions instead of rejecting it. You may learn something new about how other restaurants operate or the kinds of products that are popular with customers.
A restaurant’s main ingredient is its oil; without it, you can’t cook anything. Whether you buy from a distributor or an independent driver, ensure you get fresh oil with the right blend for your fryers. You don’t want to end up with old or contaminated oil that will ruin your food and reputation. Ensure your oil deliveries are on time. If you don’t have an easy way to track them, note the date and time of your last delivery. You should also ensure adequate oil in storage to last at least a week between deliveries.
Upgrade Countertops
Counters are the focal point of any restaurant, so they need to feature in your remodel. You can update your establishment’s overall feel and atmosphere by giving your countertops a facelift. Countertops are the most visible areas in any restaurant, and if you’re looking to modernize your space, consider changing your countertops. When your restaurant is ready for a facelift, it’s crucial to have the right contractor on board. With the right countertop installer, your restaurant will look more appealing while also improving its functionality.
Upgrade the Kitchen
An excellent way to modernize any restaurant is by creating an environment that customers enjoy. Newer restaurants often have sleek, modern de signs with light wood accents, stainless steel countertops, and glass-fronted refrigerators. These features are not only attractive but also practical. They make it easy for customers to see their food before ordering and are easier to clean.
The kitchen is one of the critical places to modernize any restaurant business. You will struggle to maintain or get more customers if you don’t have a well-equipped kitchen.
Consider replacing appliances, including refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers, when upgrading your kitchen. You can also consider replacing your microwave if it’s not energy efficient or needs a new door seal. Refrigerators are a must-have piece of equipment for any restaurant owner who wants their business to succeed. Refrigerators can help improve customer satisfaction because they help keep food fresh longer and prevent foodborne illnesses. A kitchen remodel also involves upgrading your sinks and faucets by replacing them with stainless steel models. A kitchen upgrade will give your restaurant a more modern look that also helps keep food safe.
Re-design Your Restaurant’s Appearance
Redecorate your restaurant to give it a facelift. If you don’t have a color scheme for your restaurant, now is the time to come up with one. If some colors or patterns particularly appeal to you, use them as inspiration for your color scheme. If you want your restaurant to feel modern, use neutral colors like white, grey, and black. You will find it easier to change the look of the space with different lighting schemes or artwork. It will make it easier for customers to appreciate their surroundings when eating at your establishment. Artwork adds personality and reflects your concept or theme for customers to feel like they’re dining at a place that reflects their tradition. For example, if your restaurant serves Chinese food, try using Chinese-inspired artwork.
If you want to modernize any restaurant, it’s crucial to get high-quality signs for your restaurant. They should be large enough to be visible from afar but not so big that they take up too much space. Ensure they match the style of your other signage and reflect your brand or message. Attractive signage makes a big difference in how your customers perceive your business. If they walk into a dingy place with no signage or advertisements, they might think it’s not worth their time or money.
Repair Worn Appliances
If your grease trap is damaged or malfunctioning, your kitchen staff must dispose of waste into the sewer system without first filtering out oil and grease. It’s best to call a professional plumber immediately. Engaging a professional rather than fixing it yourself helps you avoid later costly repairs and long-term headaches. If you want to install one, it helps to know the type of pipe fittings necessary for your particular installation area, whether commercial or residential. You can buy these fittings at any hardware store.
Old restaurants have worn floors due to many people walking back and forth on them several times a week. They’re also subject to spills and accidents. It might be due for some new flooring. Commercial remodeling helps you modernize any restaurant and keep up with the times and the latest trends. You must keep your customers happy, stay on top of the newest food trends, and ensure that your restaurant lives up to its reputation as a quality establishment.
Ovens are a big part of a kitchen, and if you’re running a restaurant, it’s crucial to know when you need Viking oven repairs. The best way to keep your ovens in good working order is to hire an expert who can provide regular maintenance. Oven repairs will help you avoid major problems with your equipment, saving you money in the long run. In addition, it will also ensure your staff is safe while working in the kitchen.
Upgrade Equipment
It’s paramount to upgrade older equipment for your restaurant to stay competitive. You want your customers to enjoy their dining experience without feeling outdated or out of place with the decor around them. Upgrading outdated equipment can help improve customer satisfaction and keep them coming back for more.
The kitchen is one of the essential areas to modernize any restaurant. It makes sense to invest time and money into upgrading it where necessary. For example, if your restaurant uses traditional gas stoves and ovens, it might be time for an upgrade. You could choose to buy more energy-efficient appliances than what you currently have in place.
Update Furniture and Accessories
Get rid of dated decor, furniture, and fixtures. If you’ve been open for years and haven’t updated any of these things, it’s time for a change. Other ways to modernize any restaurant include replacing old furniture with new furniture. New tables, chairs, booths, and bar stools add color and style to your restaurant. You’ll also consider upgrading your tables and chairs. It doesn’t mean replacing them completely but adding cushions or slipcovers to look more modern and fresh. You can add some decorative touches like tablecloths or runners for a more formal feel or use them as placemats to ease cleaning up after each meal.
Change the Lighting
One of the simplest ways to modernize any restaurant is with new lighting fixtures. The décor in any restaurant makes up a huge part of its ambiance and appearance. A decor improvement will immediately make your restaurant look more attractive and appealing from the outside and inside. You don’t have to invest in expensive chandeliers or ceiling lights. Instead, look for affordable options such as LED bulbs or energy-efficient lighting systems that are easy on the eyes. It helps with nice lighting because it makes people feel more comfortable and relaxed. If they feel uncomfortable or stressed out at all times while eating, they will not come again. Consider investing in dimmer switches so you can control the brightness level of your lights depending on whether it’s nighttime or daytime. LEDs last longer than other types of light bulbs, so it is an investment that will pay dividends for years to come.
Enhance Health and Safety Measures
If you’re looking to modernize any restaurant, remember the health department is critical to your modernization plan. It’s easy to overlook food handling, maintenance, and waste disposal. However, they can be the difference between a successful restaurant and one that gets shut down by the health department. Your first step is to ensure you have a good relationship with your local health inspector by following all laws and regulations. In terms of equipment, ensure everything from dishwashers to refrigerators is in good condition and that they don’t pose any safety risks for customers or employees. If something breaks down or needs replacing, get it fixed immediately instead of putting off repairs for later.
You must ensure that the kitchen and bathrooms are up to date and that the staff is trained in safety and proper food handling techniques. Before you buy any safety devices for your business, it’s paramount that you and your employees know where to install them. You may have to determine the most dangerous areas of your restaurant. For example, if an oven in the kitchen caused fires in the past, it would make sense for you to install a fire suppression system in that area of the building. If electrical equipment is also near the kitchen area, you may want to place an alarm near those wires. It can help protect the building, its contents, and the people who work and eat there.
Ward Off Pests
The restaurant business is tough, and staying relevant in this rapidly changing world is tough. With technology making it easier for customers to find good food anywhere, you have to ensure your restaurant stays on top of new trends and ways of doing things. A crucial way to modernize any restaurant is through commercial pest control. Ensuring your restaurant is clean entices customers to dine at your establishment. If your restaurant is dirty, no one will want to eat there. Ensure that everything from the floors to the walls is clean and well-maintained. Rodents can ruin businesses by contaminating food, spreading disease, and causing damage to structures. You may hire a restaurant rodent control expert or an exterminator who works with businesses, but you should always check references before hiring anyone.
Update Menu Offerings
To attract more customers, you need to offer them something new and exciting. If you’ve been in the same location for years and haven’t changed how things are run, it might be time for an update. If you are unsure where to start, hire someone with experience in this area. If you have an old menu that hasn’t been changed in years, it’s time for a change! Customers want something new and exciting, so give them what they want. Try adding new items or changing existing ones to keep things interesting for everyone involved.
Whether you are lucky enough to inherit a restaurant or not, there are many things you can do to modernize any restaurant. A restaurant needs to change, evolve and adapt if it wants to succeed. It’s not enough to get by on your reputation. You must constantly improve the dining experience, including the decor and menu. To ensure your business’s survival, keeping up with the latest modernizations and innovations in the industry is essential. If not careful, your customers could be going elsewhere.