Restaurant Startups Surge in Post-Pandemic Economy

COVID-19 changed much about how the restaurant industry operates, from a greater reliance on food delivery services to changing staffing models and expanded outdoor dining. But new data from the U.S. Census Bureau has revealed another post-pandemic trend: more entrepreneurs want to be part of the industry.

In March, 26,786 business applications were filed for new accommodation and foodservice establishments — closely matching the average of 26,000 applications over the past eight months. That number represents a surge in activity compared with pre-pandemic filings. From January 2010 to March 2020, new business applications for restaurants followed a steady but slower upward trend. As explained by the National Restaurant Association, if that pace had continued through the pandemic to today, there would have been only about 17,500 new applications in March. The actual data show that filings were 53% above that number, signaling that the industry has entered a heightened phase of activity.

“Business applications surged in the post-pandemic period, and while growth has since stabilized, the level of activity remains substantially elevated relative to historical norms,” the National Restaurant Association wrote in an economic analysis. “This pattern underscores a broader shift toward greater entrepreneurial activity across the economy, including within restaurants, foodservice operations, and accommodation providers.”

The uptick in new accommodation and restaurant business filings is part of an overall increase in all new business filings, which reached a monthly high of 537,266 in November 2025.

The full analysis is available here.