Restaurant Furniture

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Restaurant Opening Checklist

Before you open a restaurant it’s important to have everything in order. When those doors open, it’ll be too late and you’ll get stuck on “putting out fires” instead of moving your business forward. For a smooth restaurant opening menus need to be set, ordered, the seating needs to be arranged, staff needs to be hired and prepped, etc.

To help you get a good start here’s a quick checklist of things to do before the grand opening:

  1. Create a menu. Before opening, the restaurant should offer certain types of food or cuisine. Some restaurants allow people to offer menu names on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. This is an easy way to outsource the task of naming items on the menu and a great way to publicize a grand opening. The menu should have, depending on your type of cuisine, appetizers, drinks, specials, main dishes, side items, desserts, and other courses if necessary. Depending on when you will be open, you should include breakfast and lunch sections. In one of our next posts we will discuss tips and ideas for creating successful menus.
  2. Arrange seating. The seating will depend on the size of the restaurant and the ambiance required. If it’s a laidback bar style, dining booths, bar stools and high-top tables are appropriate. If you have a patio, choose outdoor patio furniture that fits the desired atmosphere. For example, a country-style restaurant would have picnic tables instead of bistro tables for two. The walkways need to be wide enough for trays of food and people to pass by. You want to make seating comfortable, not cramped, so have tables and seats a set distance apart to allow people to get up and sit without disturbing one another. The tables should also be large enough for the plates, drinks, and flatware. Seating should be arranged in linear rows or a pattern which will make it easier for staff to work with, and more comfortable for customers as well. (more…)
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Tips for a Great Restaurant Atmosphere (part 1)

Cafe atmosphere After discussing things like the importance of a good restaurant layout and how to spot quality restaurant furniture, we have a two part post on how to create a winning restaurant atmosphere. The kind of atmosphere that will make your customers come back and bring their friends too.

Creating the perfect atmosphere for your restaurant can take a bit of trial and error. You have to fiddle with lighting, seating, music, decorations, food, service, and how to best receive customer feedback. All these and more can affect the mood and atmosphere of your restaurant.

So like we promised in the beginning, here are some tips for creating a great restaurant atmosphere. (more…)

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Happy New Year

Happy new year!

We hope you had a great start to the new year and an even better end to last one.

Our sponsors from affordableseating.net certainly had a great start to their year with a new YouTube channel and a few fun adverts for their restaurant furniture.

If you have a minute to spare you are welcome to watch this short funny video or visit their channel to see their other videos.

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11 Tips for Finding Quality Cheap Restaurant Furniture

Restaurant FurnitureThe holidays are a great time for most of us because we get to spend more time with our family, but they can also be hard on the wallet, especially in these times.

However, even today new restaurants and venues are opening and old ones need to keep up with the competition. As any business owner knows, in order to survive and succeed we need to be very smart with our money.

This is why we’ve made this list of tips to help you find new, cheap restaurant furniture without having to compromise on the quality.

1. Take your time – If possible start your furniture “hunt” at least a month before you need them. It takes time to find the right furniture for your venue and you need to allow enough time for shipping. Don’t forget, express shipping is available but it costs more.

2. Shop online – When you shop online you can easily compare prices from different stores. Buying from a local store has its benefits but sometimes an online store that is not local might have cheaper prices, sales or discounts on shipping which can bring down the overall cost of your order.

3. Go metal– For the most part, metal restaurant chairs are cheaper than wood ones. However, if you have your heart set on wood restaurant chairs then look for items that are on sale.

4. Keep it simple – the more features a chair has the higher its price will be. A standard black frame finish is usually the cheapest option and will match almost any décor. Go for a standard wood or vinyl seat and, if you have time to do it yourself, look for chairs that come with the seat detached.

5. Buy in-stock items – By not ordering custom made restaurant furniture you save a lot of money and time. Commercial furniture stores usually have a stock of ready-made furniture that is ready to ship at a days’ notice. This means that the quick-ship or in-stock items are not only cheaper than custom made ones but they ship faster too.

(more…)

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How to Spot Quality Commercial Furniture

Restaurant FurnitureWhen you are furnishing your restaurant, finding quality seating is an important step.  While style and practicality are important elements, finding durable seating that will last for years is equally important.  To find the right furniture for your restaurant, there are several factors you should consider.  The following is a list of helpful tips that will teach you how to spot quality commercial furniture as you shop.

  • Look for chairs that come fully assembled. Manufacturers who do all of the assembly themselves can inspect each chair to make sure it meets their standards.  Manufacturers who sell assembled chairs are also more likely to address concerns you may have about the quality of your chairs.  Assembling the large number of chairs you need for a restaurant can be very time consuming as well, using time that could be spent doing other, more important tasks.
  • Ask if the chairs you are purchasing have been tested for weight and durability. Many chairs that are advertised for commercial use are better suited for home use as they cannot stand up to the constant use that is required in a restaurant setting.  Along the same line, ask the manufacturer if they specialize in restaurant or commercial furniture, which can give you an idea of the quality of their products and their suitability for restaurant use. One such quality standard is the BIFMA standard for commercial furniture products. (more…)
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Choosing the Right Furniture for Your Restaurant

Restaurant FurnitureCreating the perfect restaurant requires a lot of ingredients- and not just the ones you use to cook with!  Chances are, your guests will never see the inside of your kitchen, but they will enjoy their meal in the comfort of the seating area of your restaurant.  This is why choosing the right furniture for your restaurant is so important.

When you are ready to select new or replacement furniture for your establishment, there are some important things to consider:

  • What conditions will your furniture be exposed to?  If you are opening an outdoor café, your furniture will likely get wet, snowy, and even muddy.  Furniture for outdoor establishments needs to be rugged while still providing a comfortable and welcoming spot for diners.  If you will only be using furniture indoors, you have more options in terms of materials and fabrics for seating.  You should select restaurant furniture that will stand up to the every day use it will see.
  • Who are your clientele? Furniture for an upscale dining establishment will see less wear and tear than the booths in a family-friendly diner.  If you plan to cater to kids, think about the spills and stains that are likely to result from kids dining at your restaurant.  You will want to look for sturdy furniture, stain resistant and easy to clean fabrics, not to mention, durable finishes. If you plan to attract grown-up diners, you will still need to balance the look of luxury with the need for easy to clean materials. (more…)
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