Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - After slumping along with the rest of the economy, the local restaurant business is picking back up. More people headed out to eat shows increasing consumer confidence.
A number of factors may be influencing this uptick, including the warm weather and tax refunds, but consumer confidence may be the most important. Mondays and Tuesdays are always slow in the restaurant business, but this Monday the dining rooms were filled. The same couldn't be said just one year ago.
As Managing Partner of Justin's Grill Bob Diruzzo, saw the recession hit hard last year. With its unique location next to the hotels in Carrier Circle, his business relies heavily on business travelers. "That's a lot of what we see during the week business. Our Monday through Thursday business is a lot of corporate business. We can kind of judge it by that."
Diruzzo says that business has been picking up since January, which means the dining room is also getting back to normal. Justin's grill is doing 15-percent better than this time last year.
Even on typically slower days, downtown restaurants like Pastabilities are bustling too. "We'll have a significant wait time - an hour, two hours. We'll have people packed at the bar, just a lot of activity," said Manager Gabriel Angelone.
With more people confident enough to start spending again that also means more people working to make sure customers get what they ordered. "People like being around when it's busier. They have a lot to do. It's lively, and in the end, they're making more money," said Angelone.
"I think we still have a little ways to go. We're not quite there. It is starting to turn the corner," said Diruzzo.
The coming summer months are expected to help businesses even more. Warmer weather naturally brings out more customers, meaning restaurants can open more tables, accommodate more people and bring in more money.
