The Red And Green Flags Texas Folks Look For At Restaurants

It seems that restaurants are dropping like flies (ew, sorry for the comparison) all over Texas. From major chains shuttering doors to mom-and-pops throwing in the towel, it is not an easy time to own an eatery.

The closures do not seem to discriminate between chain and local, upscale or down home. The Dallas Metroplex lost several long-standing, highly-acclaimed signature spots recently. And across Texas, many Denny's locations are soon to lock its doors for the last time.

Many aspects are beyond the control of the owner or manager. While ordering smart can help control supply costs, there is very little wiggle room around the cost of essentials like eggs and oil.

Depending on your Texas city, finding good help may be a major challenge as well. However, there are great ways to keep the people you do have.

For most in the restaurant business, giving up isn't an option. It's how food gets put on the table- for your customers and your family back home.

According to the Texas Restaurant Association, the restaurant business is an $87 billion industry that employs 1.3 million people. For perspective, that means restaurants are the second-highest private-sector employers and 11% of Texas jobs.

So for the "just eat at home" crowd, you do you, but your local economy is very affected by the performance of your restaurant industry, and there will come a night in which you cannot bear to do the dishes.

So if you do own or operate a restaurant, how do you survive the current economic storm that's against you? By looking for the red and green flags your customers see about you- online, outside, and inside your place of business.

I challenge you to look at this list and make the improvements you can- most cost little to nothing to fix.