Restaurant jobs spike as Americans seek treats, cheap comfort food
NY Post
NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) – On paper, American consumers spent last year tightening their belts, and even retail heavyweights stumbled. But sit-down restaurants and some drive-through chains buzzed with patrons seeking a special treat or cheap comfort food.
Their upbeat sales made the US restaurant industry a rare bright spot for jobs, with restaurant payrolls ticking up 1% last year, adding about 108,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In contrast, the overall US economy added 181,000 non-farm jobs in 2025, marking the weakest annual payroll growth in 20 years outside a recession year.
Success among restaurants was not evenly spread, though.
Corporate filings show that eateries such as Brinker’s Chili’s, Yum Brands’ Taco Bell and fast-growing coffee chain Dutch Bros lured customers by aggressively marketing bundled deals, leaning into digital innovation and limited-time offers, and focusing on high-margin, Instagrammable food.
But previous darlings like Chipotle and Cava were hurt by what analysts call the “slop-bowl fatigue” – growing weariness among younger consumers with high-priced, customizable grain or salad bowls.
Zero Bond – the exclusive New York City club beloved by the likes of Jay-Z, Gigi Hadid and former Mayor Eric Adams – is opening a Las Vegas outpost this week.
US stocks were little changed on Tuesday as oil prices dropped after President Trump signaled the war in Iran will be limited – though the drop slowed after the White House walked back a claim that an oil tanker had been escorted through an Iranian energy chokepoint.
After nearly 50 years in Orange County, Yamaha Motor Corp. USA is packing up its headquarters — trading Cypress, California for Kennesaw, Georgia in a sweeping corporate shift that will impact about 250 workers.The motorcycle and motorsports giant says the move is part of major “structural reforms” meant to boost profits as costs climb — including pressure from tariffs imposed during the administration of President Donald Trump and shifting market conditions.
Southern California’s luxury shopping landscape is shrinking as three high-end department store locations prepare to shut their doors.
Stocks went on a rollercoaster ride Monday — with the Dow finishing in positive territory on upbeat comments from President Trump after plunging nearly 900 points on simmering stagflation fears.
Private equity firm KKR is working with advisers on a sale of data center cooling company CoolIT Systems for a price tag potentially exceeding $3 billion, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.
John Tatum is one of the most plugged-in businessmen I know, and yet when the bombs started flying over his hotel room in downtown Doha — just a few minutes from the embattled US military facility in Qatar — he was stranded and helpless.
Morgan Stanley’s surprise round of layoffs this past week was the result of “shifting business and location priorities,” and “individual job performance” issues here and abroad, according to the firm’s flacks.
Saks Global said Friday it was closing 15 more stores as the luxury retailer, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, tries to cut losses and focus on more profitable, higher-end locations.
Bars and eateries are adapting to the Ozempic era by offering mini cocktails.
Six Flags Entertainment will sell off seven of its amusement parks in the United States and Canada to EPR Properties, the company announced Thursday.
A pair of baby-faced Goldman Sachs bankers could be fired over flashy photo shoots and interviews they gave for an “unauthorized” spread in a trendy New York magazine, The Post has learned.
