Summer is slow for many Arizona restaurants because snowbirds leave, people avoid the heat, and patios are too hot to use. You cannot change the weather, but you can change how you sell. Focus on four things: online orders, your regulars, your hours and your costs.
Why is summer slow in Arizona?
From roughly June through September, the heat keeps people home, many winter visitors have gone north, and families travel. Monsoon storms can also cut a night short. Your patio, which brings people in during the cooler months, is not an asset in July.
Slow does not mean empty. It means you need to do more of the work to bring people in.
Can online orders help?
Many people would rather eat at home than step into 110 degree air. If your food travels well, make ordering easy.
- Put your phone number and ordering link in your listing, on your website and on your social pages.
- Keep a short takeout menu with the dishes that hold up well in a car.
- Tell people when your pickup is ready, and keep the wait honest.
- Pack hot and cold foods separately.
Look at your own sales. Which dishes already go to-go? Start there.
How do you bring back your regulars?
Your regulars are your summer. Write down the names of the people who come in often. Say hello and ask for their phone number so you can send an occasional text, only if they agree.
Then send something useful: a lunch special, a new dish, a cooler time to come in. Keep it rare, so it feels like news. Ask them to bring a friend.
Also say thank you. A simple "we are glad you are here in July" matters.
Should you change your hours or your menu?
Look at your slowest hours for the last month. If you are open late and nobody comes, ask whether closing earlier or one extra day off saves more than it loses. Shorter hours can save on staff and power. Change your hours on every place customers look, including your directory listing, so nobody drives over to a dark door.
You might also trim the menu. Fewer dishes mean less waste, which matters when guest counts are down.
What about the register and the phone?
When a restaurant is busy, orders can get lost. A good register keeps takeout and dine-in orders straight, and a phone that is answered keeps orders from walking away.
Jetsy is small-business software built for home-service companies, auto shops and restaurants. Restaurant plans include a register, and it also has an AI receptionist that answers the phone when you cannot. Plans start at $25 a month.
Diners looking for a place can also use the trip planner or the Ask helper, so keep your listing accurate.
What should you do this week?
Pick one thing. Count how many calls you missed last week. Check your hours online. Write down your ten best regulars and think about how to thank them. Small steps beat a big plan that never starts.
Questions people ask
When is the slow season for Arizona restaurants?
It is generally summer, roughly June through September, when snowbirds are gone and the heat keeps people home. Local patterns vary by neighborhood and type of food.
Should my restaurant close in summer?
That depends on your costs and your sales. Look at your numbers by day and hour before you decide. Check with your CPA about the tax side of any change.
How do I get more takeout orders?
Make ordering easy, list your phone number and ordering link everywhere, and keep a takeout menu of dishes that travel well. Tell your regulars.
Own a business in Arizona? Your basic listing on the directory is free — add it in two minutes, or find who to call for the job in front of you.
