What would you think if a restaurant closed "temporarily" (2-4 weeks)?

Question

I own a restaurant. Long story short, we need to close for a minimum of 2, probably 4 weeks to re-organize. (We had all of our kitchen staff and some of our servers walk out tonight--and NO, i promise I am not some horrible boss...they just listened to rumors that i wasn't given a chance to prove wrong.)

Anyway, I'm very concerned about what my customers will think/do if they come and read a sign on the door that we are temporarily closed.

I would love to tell the truth, but cannot without tarnishing a family members reputation, and I refuse to stoop to her level. Lets say I blame it on "emergency plumbing repairs which made us decide to revamp the kitchen meanwhile" or ??? would this, as a customer, either a regular or first time visitor, change your opinion and likelihood to return to the restaurant, or have any kind of negative impact?

Please help!

P.S. I would DEFINITELY post a sign WITH an excuse of some kind, that is a given. Also, this has to happen immediately, so I can't give warning to customers unfortunately. Thanks!

Answer 1

Might be a good time to take out a loan and make any improvements you can forsee being good for the business. It would cover well for the close down, and when would be a better time to do it?

When you reopen, spend a little more on your advertising budget. Look at traffic, or news radio as a cost effective advertising venue. Have the notice you put on the door professionally made by a sign shop so it adds credibility and looks very professional and planned. I also suggest that on the sign as soon as you can you add a definate reopening date, and announce something such as all entrees will be buy-one-get-one for % off during the grand reopening week to celebrate.

It will cost you, but look at it as an investement, not an expense. If handled well, this could be a great chance to make the business grow. In business many challenges are just opportunities in disguise.

Answer 2

Since you want to protect your family's reputation, you can just put a sign up that says 'closed due to family emergency.' Or you could just say you're on vacation. Emeril's restaurant did that when we were in New Orleans once. They hung a sign on the door saying they had gone fishing. But what I would do on the employees who walked out is call them and explain to them exactly what is going on and give them a chance to come back if they believe you. As long as you're not hiding something bad from your customers, then I think the signs are fine. Most people probably wouldn't think anything of it and just come back when you re-open. Let us know how things work out.

Answer 3

"Temporarily closed for Renovation"

That should suffice. Restaurants closing doesn't necessarily mean a health issue though that is the first thought to cross most people's mind. But with a simple explanation on the door, it should calm their doubts. My favorite restaurant just closed temporarily and my first thought was a health issue. Come to find out, the owner is having surgery, and he never trained anyone else how to cook the food. Too bad for him. But I will definetely be eating there again as soon as they open now that I know it isn't a health issue.

Answer 4

firstly, i would think either the restaurant is getting refurbished or the health dept has found breaches. I would be more inclined to think for a period of 2-4 weeks it would be due to renovations as generally health dept breaches if not serious could be fixed up on the spot or in a couple of days. but i think the health dept would have to notify public if a serious breach.

so generally as i have had experience in hospitality/retail industries i would put it down to renovating kitchen or something like that but i think with all the bad publicity with dirty grotty restaurants in australia and people thinking what they like may slightly tarnish your image - but if renovating may show that you are investing customers money in bringing them a better dining experience.

Answer 5

I agree with the two previous posters.

If you put up a sign saying "under renovation" perhaps it would be best. That way your regulars might hassle you for not advising them, but a new customer may not think it was health department related and would try you another time if they remembered.

If you're looking for help a "vacation" sign wouldn't cut it.

Answer 6

If I saw a sign, then I'd probably think that there is something wrong health-wise. In that case, i would tell the truth. Employees walking out is better than rat droppings in the soup. On the other hand, maybe I would think that you were renovating, which is understandable.

Answer 7

My immediate reaction when I see a restaurant closed down for a few months is that they failed some kind of health inspection. I know this is not always the case, but I'm just telling you the first thing that comes to mind. I would make it clear that it was not shut down for unsanitary conditions, etc.

Answer 8

I have seen several restaurants close temporarily. One chef in Chicago, take his staff to different regions in Mexico for new ideas. Other chef/owners in Chicago close for a few weeks to take vacations, remodel, revamp the menu. As long as the customers are happy when you come back, that's the most important.

Answer 9

I am a server in a formal dining restaurant in Ottawa and I used to work for a man in a cafe, who gambled his money away and slowly started losing his utilities. I still ran the restaurant with no gas. I brought in electrical equipment to cook with. Our regular customers were still devoted to us until the bitter end. I think your sign should say. WE ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

Answer 10

curiously, you may no longer call 4 the two, yet you may flow on an prolonged diatribe against the defense force. i do no longer have faith we've bombed 4 international places interior the final 2 weeks, in spite of if that's real looking to have faith that we've used explosive munitions in the two Afghanistan or Iraq. by some ability i do no longer see a thank you to equate holding our hobbies to imperialism.