How to Open a Mall Restaurant

Mall restaurants are a popular gathering places for the young and middle-aged crowd alike. The mall is a great place for trendy restaurants to gain exposure, as they make themselves available to hundreds or thousands of people each day. Capitalize on this exposure by opening your own mall restaurant.

Instructions

1. Determine how large of a restaurant you want to open. If you want to open a restaurant that sells hot dogs and pretzels for mall patrons to carry while they shop, you won't need as much space as if you want to open a sit-down restaurant with a salad bar.

2. Find a mall in the area you are interested in that has an opening for a restaurant such as yours. Malls typically have a set number of units available for restaurants. Determine the rent for these locations. Locate a spot that has the size and features you need, as well as the price that is right.

3. Choose a mall based on traffic for your restaurant. While rent will be less expensive at a mall that is on the down-turn and doesn't have as much traffic anymore, you won't have as many customers. If you place your restaurant in a mall that has a high level of foot traffic, you are more likely to be successful.

4. Furnish the restaurant with tables, chairs, decorations that fit the theme of your restaurant and kitchen equipment. Hire people to work as waitstaff, kitchen help, cashiers, hosts and bus people.

5. Advertise in the mall as a new restaurant with the date that you will open. Advertise in local media to let people know you are there. Offer some opening specials to stir up interest in your restaurant.