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The business climate for Washington-area restaurants continues to be tough overall, with sales down more than 3% for February compared to a year ago. However, the detailed picture is a bit more mixed. While full-service restaurant sales were down more than 4%, fast-casual sales actually saw a small increase (albeit under 1%). This might be a trend to watch, especially when it comes to annual celebrations like Valentine’s Day, a traditionally busy day for restaurants. This year’s heart-day sales in the DC area certainly weren’t heart-breaking. The region saw an uptick for both full-service restaurants, up 1.55%, and fast-casual eateries, up a more notable and surprising 4.19%. It looks like fast-casual can hold its own when it comes to marking a special day.

Monthly Sales Trend

Monthly Sales Trend

Year-over-year Sales Trend


About these metrics:   The MarginEdge monthly snapshot of DC Metro restaurant sales is based on a sampling of 100+ area restaurants ranging from fast-casual to full-service. 

Tag(s): Metrics