As New Bedford Slips, Massachusetts Restaurant Scene ‘Flourishes’

Several high-profile restaurant closings have occurred recently in New Bedford, including Freestone's, Dough Company and Carmine's at Candleworks. The restaurant business is not for the faint-hearted.

Adam Guild, co-founder and CEO of Owner.com, says 17 percent of restaurants fail in their first year, and "around 51 percent of restaurants survive past their fifth year in business."

Guild cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as his source.

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Guild says, "One of the leading causes of failure is 'poor menu-market fit." He says new restaurants may not succeed because they "fail to build a clear and distinct brand."

Other causes of failure include poor margin control, a failure to get repeat customers, and they "ruin first impressions with a bad online experience," according to Guild.

I don't know what is to blame for the recent local restaurant closings, but inflation is likely partly responsible for tough times in the restaurant business.

Despite troubles locally the Massachusetts restaurant scene is "flourishing," according to the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA). The MRA's website says, "Massachusetts is one of the nation's most flourishing restaurant environments with over 18,000 restaurants and growing daily."

"One out of every 10 employees in the state are employed directly in or in supporting industries of the restaurant industry, an undeniable driving force in the state's economy," according to the Association.

XMap says, "Massachusetts offers a varied culinary scene, with a wide range of restaurants and cafes, found in its different counties."

According to the site, Bristol County alone has 1,452 restaurants and cafes.

The local news is not all bad. Carmine's has a new owner and will reopen soon and most other restaurants appear to be doing well.