Week ending 7/30/2020.

More than 500 (net) new openings last week. There were no holidays in the way or remnant issues that could tilt the numbers.

New restaurant openings are typically preceded by DBA filings, LLC formations, liquor license filings, and local permit applications. Monitoring these early signals allows sales teams, suppliers, and service providers to identify emerging restaurant concepts before they fully launch.

estaurant opening trends showed significant strength during the week ending July 30, 2020, with more than 500 net new restaurant openings identified through legal filings, business registrations, and permit activity. This represents one of the strongest weeks of new restaurant growth in several months following the COVID-related slowdown.

Legal filing activity provides early indicators of restaurant expansion, often identifying new restaurants opening soon several weeks before public announcements or marketing activity occurs. Independent operators continue to account for the majority of filings, while chain restaurant expansion remains below pre-COVID levels.

Sit-down restaurants continue to represent more than 50% of all new openings, suggesting continued demand for full-service dining concepts despite broader market uncertainty.

Companies analyzing restaurant leads and foodservice leads frequently use legal filing activity to identify early-stage opportunities and monitor restaurant expansion trends across markets.

Key Insights

• Over 500 net new restaurant openings in one week
• One of the strongest weekly growth periods in recent months
• Sit-down restaurants represent more than 50% of filings
• Independent operators account for approximately 85–90% of new openings
• Chain expansion activity remains below pre-COVID levels
• Legal filings provide early indicators of restaurants opening soon

New openings are derived from legal filings. Filers would have filed in the previous week.

Sit down is stubbornly more than 50% of all new openings.

Chains are still super hesitant with around 10-15% of new openings compared to approximately 35% pre-COVID

Related Restaurant Industry Resources

Restaurant Sales Leads

Pre-Opening Restaurant Sales Leads

New Restaurant Openings

Sample Restaurant Sales Leads

Businesses monitoring restaurant opening trends often use structured restaurant leads data to identify expansion opportunities before competitors become aware of new locations.