Transitioning from the grab-and-go model to a stay-awhile aesthetic means getting the logistics right. “How many parking spots do you have? How long are they staying? Have you just negatively impacted your retail sales by having people sit instead of buy?” Lawshe says.
When space constraints make it difficult to maintain a stay-awhile atmosphere, Henken says order-ahead online and mobile tools can allow the customer to wait for their food somewhere other than the store.
Making room for customers to stay awhile must be a dedicated effort, says Mike Lawshe of Paragon Solutions.