Game Day Is Coming: Is Your Restaurant Ready for the Rush?
In Wisconsin, Packers football isn't just something people watch.
It's an event.
Restaurants, bars, breweries and gathering places across the state can turn into game-day destinations when the Green & Gold take the field.
The TVs are on. The drinks are flowing. Wings are hitting the tables. The place is packed.
That's exactly what you want.
But there's another side of a successful Packers watch party that your customers probably never think about.
Are you stocked for it?
A Busy Game Day Can Expose the Little Things
Think about what happens when your normal Sunday crowd suddenly gets a whole lot bigger.
More food goes through the kitchen.
More drinks hit the tables.
More customers use the restrooms.
More spills happen.
More employees are moving between the kitchen, bar and dining room.
And suddenly, the supplies you normally have plenty of start disappearing quickly.
Bar towels. Kitchen towels. Aprons. Mops. Restroom paper. Hand soap.
Running short on any one of them probably isn't going to stop the game.
But it can make an already hectic shift a lot harder than it needs to be.
Your Towels Shouldn't Run Out Before the Fourth Quarter
During a busy service, towels are constantly moving.
They're wiping down bars.
Cleaning tables.
Handling spills.
Supporting kitchen cleanup.
Helping employees reset areas quickly for the next group of customers.
When you're packed for kickoff, the last thing your team should be worrying about is whether there are enough clean towels to make it through the night.
Your towel inventory should match the reality of your busiest days, not just an average Tuesday.
Don't Forget About the Restrooms
The dining room might be where customers spend most of their time, but your restrooms are part of their experience too.
A packed restaurant means significantly more restroom traffic.
That means more:
- Paper towel usage
- Toilet paper usage
- Hand soap usage
- Trash
- Floor cleanup
- Employee attention
Nobody wants an employee leaving a busy bar or kitchen because someone just discovered the restroom is out of paper towels.
Before game day, make sure your restroom program can handle the crowd you're hoping walks through the door.
Wisconsin Weather Adds Another Challenge
And then there's the weather.
As football season moves deeper into fall and winter, Wisconsin brings rain, leaves, snow, salt and slush along with those customers.
Every person walking through your entrance can bring some of it inside.
That's where a properly serviced entrance mat program becomes even more important.
Clean, appropriately placed mats can help capture moisture and debris at the entrance before it travels farther into your restaurant.
Because when your place is packed, your employees already have enough to worry about.
Constantly mopping the front entrance shouldn't be one of them.
Check the First Aid Cabinet Before You Need It
Fast-paced kitchens and crowded restaurants also mean your team should know that basic first aid supplies are ready when they're needed.
Don't wait until someone needs a bandage to discover the box is empty.
A regularly checked and replenished first aid program is one more small thing that can help keep your operation prepared.
The Game-Day Readiness Check
Before your next Packers watch party, take five minutes and walk through your restaurant.
Ask yourself:
Do we have enough clean towels?
Are our aprons and other garments ready?
Are the restrooms fully stocked?
Are our entrance mats ready for Wisconsin weather?
Are our cleaning supplies where they need to be?
Is our first aid cabinet stocked?
And maybe the biggest question:
If we have twice the crowd we normally expect, are we still prepared?
If the answer is yes, you're ready to go.
If you're not sure, it's better to find out before kickoff.
Your Team Should Be Watching the Rush; Not the Supply Closet
Game day should be an opportunity.
More customers.
More food.
More drinks.
More energy.
And hopefully, more revenue.
Your employees should be focused on providing great service and creating an atmosphere that keeps customers coming back for the next game.
They shouldn't be counting towels or making emergency supply runs.
That's where having the right service partner can make a difference.
Bay Towel works with Wisconsin restaurants, bars and food & beverage businesses to help keep the everyday essentials handled; from towels and aprons to mats, restroom products, first aid and facility supplies.
We take care of the things behind the scenes so your team can concentrate on what's happening out front.
So before the next kickoff, ask yourself one question:
Is Your Restaurant Game-Day Ready?
If you're expecting a crowd, let's make sure your facility is prepared for one.
Go Pack Go!
