66%
Massachusetts restaurants are struggling due to high costs, cautious consumers and other factors, according to a report on the state of the industry conducted by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association . Data collected from about 100 Massachusetts restaurants found that 66% of full-service operators say their customer traffic this year is lower than it was in 2023 and only 20% think sales will be higher in 2025. The survey also found that 97% of full-service operators say food costs are a significant challenge for their businesses and 98% say labor costs are in the same category.
271
A Shrewsbury businessman is seeking to revive the Ground Round, the faded chain restaurant that appealed to families with its tolerance of messy eaters. Joseph Shea, owner of Pure Source Water Systems in Shrewsbury, has drawn up plans to convert the former Bauhinia restaurant at 271 Grafton St. into the Ground Round. A temporary sign, announcing “The Ground Round Coming Soon,” has spurred speculation and memories. Shrewsbury, like many other communities, was home to a Ground Round for many years — at Route 9 and Harrington Avenue, a neighbor to Spag’s. The spot is now filled by a Walgreens.