Restaurants Are Taking a Huge Hit

Restaurants in Louisiana can only be at 50% capacity in Louisiana right now and the tables have to be 6 feet apart. That is putting quite a strain on many restaurants across the state. We've already seen several close for good. Many of the restaurants were struggling for months of curbside service only and then moving to just 25% capacity. They adjusted an altered menus and staffing to abide by the restrictions during each phase.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association predicts a 25-30 percent drop in restaurant revenue for 2020 due to the pandemic. LRA CEO Stan Harris says they projected 11 billion dollars for the year before the pandemic, generating over a billion dollars in state and local taxes. That’s no longer the case.

The National Restaurant Association is projecting a 240 billion dollar nationwide impact to revenue for this year.

LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says the industry is particularly vulnerable because demand is currently being dictated by the public’s level of comfort in going out to eat.

Harris previously predicted 25 percent of state restaurants could permanently close due to the pandemic. Several restaurants in the Shreveport Bossier area have closed.