How to Adapt your Restaurant Interior for the New Normal with Minimal Disruption

The global pandemic has obviously had a huge impact on the restaurant industry, with major adaptations having to be made in response. The “new normal” is here as restrictions are lifting and people are trying to get back to their everyday lives. But, what does that mean for restaurants that have had to shift and pivot endlessly? Our customers gave us insight into the trends being experienced with the new normal and what it means for their interiors.

Adapting your space for comfortable dining-in and take-out areas 

While we have a return to dining-in, take-out areas are still important, and creating comfortable spaces for both are key. Off-premise and contactless ordering combined with drive-thru or curbside pick-up or delivery has created challenges in keeping those spaces accessible while ensuring dining areas are attractive. In order to get on board with this trend, restaurants will need to refresh their interior spaces to ensure both spaces meet the needs of their patrons.  

What does this mean? Using every bit of space to reconfigure your restaurant interior to create welcoming, safe and comfortable zones for both needs. Some restaurants may also opt to have a grocery marketplace at the front of their store for easy pick up of pre-made items from their menu. Archmill House has many examples of customers they have worked with to make these important changes, like Tim Hortons in Hamilton.

Delivery and ghost kitchens are a new feature

With delivery still being prevalent, many restaurants have also reconfigured their spaces for easy pick-up by delivery drivers. Many have also decided to forgo the excess fees of delivery services and now offer delivery by their in-house staff. Ghost kitchens are also an exciting addition, where several restaurants can operate out of one location, offering delivery only. This means the kitchen space could take precedence over the dining space for this concept. 

Diners want comfort and safety

For those who want to venture back into the dining room, many are looking for safety and comfort in the spaces they are going to enjoy a meal. Plexiglass dividers could be on their way out in favour of more discrete safety measures to not remind diners of pandemic risks. The complete renovation of Rapscallion restaurant in Hamilton shows how diners can be comfortable, but still safe, with aesthetic touches to keep diners distanced. Sanitation and cleanliness measures will impact the types of materials restaurants are using in their interiors. Easy-to-clean moisture-resistant surfaces will be important.

Sustainability is more important than ever

With rising food, energy and supply costs, brand owners are looking for ways to reduce the costs they are saddled with. Sustainability and long-lasting products and materials will factor in greatly. Archmill House is committed to sustainability for all of our work. 

Supply chain issues play a role in your refresh

Supply chain issues are continuing to plague almost every industry in 2022. Before beginning any major changes to your interiors, this is definitely going to be an important consideration. Archmill House manufactures our high-quality, precision-made millwork to specification in our state-of-the-art facility, so supply issues aren’t as impactful.

Dark time is a major factor

Without a doubt, the pandemic has greatly affected the bottom line of everyone in the restaurant industry. After so many closures and measures put in place that have negatively affected business, the last thing an owner will want to do is shut down to make interior changes. Archmill House is able to make renovations and refreshes with minimal dark time for your restaurant in most cases. Our recent projects included complete re-cladding while the drive-thrus continued to take customers and the dine-in area closed for the night. In the morning, customers were able to get service in the newly-refreshed dining room.

Refreshing your restaurant to the new normal with minimal disruption to your services does not have to be complicated. Speak to the experts at Archmill House to learn more.