If your restaurant or bar is feeling empty, it’s time to get real. It’s not just going to magically fill itself! Here’s what you’re likely missing, and what you need to fix—now. In this article, we’ll give you 6 local examples; 2 of which we have worked with (Cornucopia and The Bier Stein).
1. Online Reviews – Don’t Ignore Them
You can’t hide from the reviews. Google, Yelp, Facebook—if you don’t have reviews, people will assume your place isn’t worth visiting. Period. Not every review will be glowing, but that’s fine. What matters is getting your loyal customers to leave positive feedback. Take Cornucopia for example. They have over 400 reviews on Yelp alone!
Fix it:
Ask happy customers to leave reviews.
Respond to all reviews. Yes, even the negative ones.
2. Listen to Your Customers!
Taken by Sundog Visuals at Cornucopia on 5th.
Remember, your customers have their own tastebuds and feelings. Build real relationships with them. At MetroBru on West 11th, they do an excellent job of this. The baristas know the order of many regulars before they even pull up to the window and have built true friendships with many of them. If customers are not coming back, maybe it’s because you’re not listening. Get on it.
Fix it:
Talk to your customers. Ask for feedback.
Offer incentives for regulars and listen up when they give advice. They’re not trying to sabotage you.
3. What’s Your Story? Make It Matter
Source: Pixabay.
Do you have a story? If not, get one. Your restaurant or bar needs personality. Look at Portal Tea Company—they’ve built a community with their quirky tea menu and local art. They even have collective journals where customers doodle and write deep poetry! No one can compete with that level of uniqueness.
Fix it:
Establish your vibe and stick to it. Little details can make big impacts.
Use your story to make your restaurant memorable. Share it everywhere.
4. Can You Host Large Groups?
Taken by Sundog Visuals at The Bier Stein.
Not every restaurant or bar can host large parties, but The Bier Stein knows how to cater to big groups. They have a cozy space with a glowing fireplace where they can host events with a private bar. This isn’t just for special occasions—it’s an opportunity to keep the cash flowing.
Fix it:
Look at your space and think about whether it’s optimized for large groups.
Offer event hosting and show off your venue’s versatility.
5. Is Your Menu a Showstopper?
Taken by Sundog Visuals at The Bier Stein.
A great location won’t save you if your menu doesn’t stand out. Take Meraki—their avocado toast isn’t just basic toast, it’s a customer favorite. Make your menu unforgettable and people will line up. Note that this isn’t the only thing they do right. They have a great location that easily targets studious college students who live right next door in 13th and Olive. I bet a lot of them are obsessed with avocado toast!
Fix it:
Make your dishes unique and Instagram-worthy.
Focus on quality, and don’t let the same old stuff get stale.
Think about your audience base.
6. Paid Ads – Do It, or Stay Invisible
The image used in this sponsored ad for Cornucopia was created by Sundog Visuals.
Google wants money too! If you’re in a saturated market, like most of Eugene, you might need to invest in ads. Big companies are paying for their place at the top of search results, but you can still find success by targeting niche markets with good SEO and long-tailed keywords like "best Italian restaurants in Eugene for dinner.”
Fix it:
Invest in paid ads and local SEO to get noticed.
Don’t just wait for organic search to pull through—you need both.
7. Special Events – Bring the Party
Not everyone will just wander into your place unless you give them a reason. Luckey’s Club figured this out with their karaoke nights. A few years ago, weekend nights were pretty empty. Now they’re packed with customers ready to sing their hearts out or listen while they play pool. What’s your excuse?
Fix it:
Create events that match your vibe.
Promote them everywhere—Facebook, Instagram, local event sites. Get loud.
Final Thoughts: Get It Together
If you’re wondering why your restaurant or bar is empty, it’s time to stop procrastinating. Remember you dedicated yourself to something that takes a lot of hard work and you are already doing well, but you need to do better. Focus on these key areas—reviews, customer relationships, unique offerings, and events—and start taking action now. And if you need help with marketing, Sundog Visuals is here to take social media off your plate and make your content high-quality. Don’t wait any longer—your customers are out there, you just need to give them a reason to come back.