Colorado Springs restaurant pursues take-out only approach to keep up with COVID trends
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Two years into the pandemic and Southern Colorado restaurants are still working to adjust to the new ways of dining in Colorado.
Consumer trends show a dramatic increase in takeout sales, compared to pre-pandemic numbers, and it's set to continue to rise post-COVID. Online ordering and third-party delivery apps have created greater acceptance of takeout and delivery options.
Mici Handcrafted Italian recently opened a new location on Union Boulevard in north Colorado Springs. Though co-founder Michael Miceli has several Mici locations across Colorado, their new location is takeout only.
Miceli says being takeout only with its own in-house delivery drivers takes the restaurant back to its roots, twenty years ago, at its first location.
"Everyone shut their dining rooms down, as we all know, but we had this delivery and pick-up business that was already doing very well," says Miceli. "So a lot of concepts had to shift and try to rebrand themselves and get this delivery thing under control and do third parties.”
Takeout and delivery were gaining popularity even before the coronavirus pandemic struck the world in 2020, and pandemic-related closures only accelerated consumer trends toward ordering food on mobile apps and picking it up curbside, rather than enjoying it in a restaurant dining room. And though dine-in is alive and well, reports covering the state of the restaurant industry note that the majority of the growth lies with takeout sales.
Miceli says Mici Handcrafted Italian is adjusting to COVID times, and it has proven to be profitable.
"We went up almost 10% during the height of the pandemic," says Miceli.
Miceli anticipates other restaurants will follow suit, reaping the benefits of cheaper rent in a smaller space and less maintenance.
“We definitely want to keep our traditional spaces, but this is just an amazing way for us to kinda branch out and do different things," says Miceli.
