April’s numbers were the best in eight months, but not quite out of the red… however, this month’s sales are in positive territory, a hopeful sign for restaurants in the Twin Cities. Sales were up 1.35%, the first positive growth in nearly a year, and the highest growth in a full 12-month period.
Cinco de Mayo can be a boost for bar sales if it falls on the right day. This year, that wasn’t the case: a Sunday is probably not the worst day, but it meant liquor sales showed a 16% drop compared to 2018’s celebration, which fell on a Saturday. Even with this curveball, it’s reassuring to note that the month ended up in the plus category.
About these metrics: The MarginEdge monthly snapshot of Minneapolis/St. Paul restaurant sales is based on a sampling of 50+ area restaurants ranging from fast-casual to full-service.