If you’ve had past success with individual restaurant table tents on your dining patio, consider covering the entire area with an outdoor restaurant tent. Restaurant tents can increase the curb appeal, table space, cash flow and commercial value of your restaurant. Other venues, including cafeterias, gourmet coffee shops, ice cream parlors, bakeries, juice bars, and nightclubs can also realize benefits from erecting restaurant canopies.
Foodservice tents come in a variety of materials from cloth to retractable plexiglass. Side closures, dehumidifiers, ceiling fans, air coolers and heaters will keep these enclosures serviceable year round.
Use Restaurant tents to capitalize on your locale or create an appealing ambiance. Outdoor tents for restaurants are common when a business borders a natural geographic attraction such as a lake, river, ocean or mountain.
If your setting is not picturesque, with a little creative interior design, your restaurant tent can still attract customers. Shrubs, flowers, vines, small lights or torches and music will create an inviting atmosphere.
When buying restaurant outdoor tents consider the following:
1. Check your zoning laws regarding restaurant outdoor tent use.
2. Compare manufacturers of commercial foodservice tents.
3. Determine what equipment you’ll need to maintain good air quality in your outdoor restaurant tent.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Buy a canvas or vinyl restaurant tent
Have your enclosure custom made to assure adequate engineering and design. The manufacturer should provide an on-site analysis followed by a visual, usually a computer generated graphic, of the custom designed recommendation. The company should also provide transportation and installation services as well as payment options.
I recommend: Eide Industries Inc. is a custom manufacturer of tents, awnings, canopies, cabanas and other shade structures. This company specializes in commercial projects regardless of size or complexity. It employs state-of-the-art technology, industrial sewn products, custom welded metal support structures and a professional staff focused on customer satisfaction.
Modesto Tent and Awning is noted for its high-quality products at affordable prices. The company has been doing business since 1930.
Locate retractable restaurant tents
These are custom made of aluminum and plexiglass. You can retract the walls or roof as desired depending on the weather and temperature.
I recommend: Roll-A-Cover International has decades of experience in the industry and has won awards for its creative designs. The company offers a 10-year warranty on its products.
L.I.TRA.USA produces attractive retractable products that have withstood tests from strong winds, hurricanes and earthquakes. Its operating area includes the United States and Canada.
Attend to air quality in your foodservice tent
Purchase commercial heaters, air coolers, ceiling fans and dehumidifiers as necessary to keep your customers comfortable.
I recommend: Global Equipment Company, Inc. and
Grainger carry a full line of industrial supplies available online.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Most states and local ordinances permit smoking in a retractable restaurant tent when the roof is rolled back.
The official source of Restaurant Tents is the Restaurant Tents page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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