100,000 Restaurant Closures Expected in 2020

As challenging as the past six, COVID-saddled months have been for restaurants, operators don’t expect a near-term reprieve. A majority are still struggling and don’t believe their standing will improve over the next six months, according to a survey released Monday by the National Restaurant Association.

It found nearly one in six restaurants, representing close to 100,000 units, are closed either permanently or long-term. Close to 3 million employees are still out of work. And the Association’s previous target of $240 billion in sales lost by year’s end doesn’t appear to be an overshoot.