The Woodlands Edition | September 2024

BY VANESSA HOLT CONTRIBUTIONS BY ASIA ARMOUR & RACHEL LELAND

Some context

Change in costs from May to June Increased* Decreased*

Stayed the same

Retaining sta has also been an increasing challenge, several business owners said. Beth Ferester operated Lovebeans Coeehouse until December and decided to sell the business in part due to diculties keeping sta. The coee shop then closed under its new ownership this summer and was sold to The Brooklyn Café.

“Just about everybody I speak to who has owned a restaurant, … their No. 1 thing is stang, because it’s very hard to keep people,” she said. In a report from the Texas Restaurant Associa- tion in July, the majority of owners reported food and labor costs continued to climb from month to month while revenue decreased.

Food costs 63%

28%

48%

39%

12%

Labor costs

21% 64% Sales/revenue 15%

*INCLUDES BOTH SLIGHT AND SIGNIFICANT INCREASESDECREASES SOURCE: TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION

Put in perspective

Restaurant survey responses

48% less tra«c due to heat 34% lost revenue from electricity outages 27% lost product from electricity outages 21% lost sta 19% had to temporarily close one or more locations

Rhonda Ellisor, director of the Small Business Development Center at Sam Houston State University, said severe weather has also aected small businesses. As of Aug. 12, the U.S. Small Business Admin- istration reported that over 400 businesses in Montgomery County had applied for Business

Disaster Assistance this year. “There were few restaurants that weren’t impacted,” said Hannah Tosch, senior vice presi- dent of retail services for Colliers Commercial Real Estate. “When we checked on our clients, local and corporate groups, we didn’t run into anyone who hadn’t lost power from two to six days.”

SOURCE: TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking ahead

approaches such as oering catering in the future. Wade Greene, director of retail services with Colliers, said repeat business is key for restaurants. “Brands that can provide an experience and a positive dining experience … that will get someone to come back again, … those groups are going to continue to grow and survive,” he said.

about where they choose to eat, so his approach is to try to make his location more appealing to customers. “If you go from [dining out] from 10 times a month to ve or two, [you’re] going to be more critical, and go to your favorites,” he said. Ratanaarporn said she is taking several

Despite the closures this year, at least 36 businesses that serve food or drinks have opened in The Woodlands area since January, Community Impact reported. The new openings include locations for regional restaurants such as Niko Niko’s, Gloria’s Latin Cuisine and Phat Eatery. Florczak said many diners are more discerning

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THE WOODLANDS EDITION