Restaurants: Cornerstone of the economy

Restaurants are big business news in Southeast Missouri. I'm not kidding. You'd think a new plant bringing 500 new jobs would be more interesting to the average reader than the fact that we're getting an Olive Garden.

Not so. Olive Garden wins every time.

This isn't a guess. My many years of covering business ... OK, five ... have shown me it's true. By far, the majority of e-mails I get are from apparently starving readers dying to know when we're getting this restaurant or that restaurant.

For years, it was White Castle and Olive Garden. We got the former and are getting the latter. People haven't missed a beat. Now, they want to know why we don't have a TGI Friday's, Bennigan's or Popeye's.

And why I haven't done something about it?

These people want a Popeye's. And they want it now.

People want to know about restaurants and it makes sense, especially if you look at the bigger picture. Restaurants are of interest to people, which is why they are so popular and why they have such a huge economic impact to every community across the country.

The numbers bear it out. It is a big business. Consider these tasty little morsels.

* In 2005, restaurant industry sales are projected to reach $476 billion according to the National Restaurant Association. That's an increase of 4.9 percent from last year and equals 4 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.

* The restaurant industry generates a total economic impact of $1.2 trillion. Every dollar spent dining out generates more than $2 in business for other industries. That includes sales in related industries such as agriculture, transportation and manufacturing.

* The restaurant industry's share of the food dollar is currently 46.7 percent.

* The restaurant industry employs an estimated 12.2 million people, making it the nation's largest employer outside of the government. Every additional $1 million in restaurant sales generates an additional 42 jobs for the nation's economy.

* The average unit sales in 2002 were $730,000 at full-service restaurants and $619,000 at limited-service restaurants.

So eat up. You're doing more than filling your stomach. You're helping the economy.

At least that's what I tell myself.

And you'll find out plenty more about restaurants in this issue of "Business Today." There's the fascinating story of Mark Dirnberger, who rebuilt his Italian restaurant, Bella Italia. He thinks you'll like the new restaurant better.

There's also good news you can use, such as how our area stacks up against other regions in regards to the sheer number of restaurants. We'll tell you how to eat healthy while you're eating out (it can be done), how much you SHOULD tip, what it takes to run a restaurant and ... well, there's lots.

Not just restaurants, though. Get an update on Commander, the new airplane manufacturer that will go into the old Renaissance hangar at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and get all the inside info of what's going on at the Small Business Expo that takes place Nov. 17.

Meanwhile, hope all you business types have a happy Thanksgiving. And it's OK to eat at home that day.

God bless.

Scott Moyers is editor of Business Today. Contact him at smoyers@semissourian.com or 335-6611, extension 137.