Gestärkt aus den Krisen: Bewältigungs- und Anpassungsmaßnahmen von Gastronomiebetrieben in Niedersachsen

Restaurants and bars contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of towns and villages. Despite its socio-cultural and economic functions, restaurants and bars have long been neglected in urban and municipal planning, in local politics and in economic development. Since 2020, restaurants and bars have been particularly affected by the impacts of various crises. This article aims to examine the effects of these crises on restaurants and bars and identifying the operational measures taken to cope with these crises. The study is based on a combination of a quantitative survey among restaurant and bar businesses and qualitative interviews with operators of restaurants and bars as well as representatives of relevant organizations. The overlapping crises were found to have significant effects on the businesses. Approximately 40% of businesses see their existence threatened. However, around 36% of businesses indicate that they are emerging from the crises stronger. This is attributed to coping and adaptation measures and the changing competitive landscape. Finally, recommendations for action for operators of bars and restaurants, supporting organizations, and policy are derived from the study results.