In 2020, many restaurants had no choice but to close their doors due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, there was a huge increase in online food delivery. In fact, online food delivery sales in the U.S. reached $28 billion in 2021. That鈥檚 when the ghost restaurant or concept started gaining popularity.听
A ghost restaurant isn鈥檛 as scary as it might sound. This restaurant concept helped food establishments continue operations but in a slightly different manner. It鈥檚 an innovative restaurant concept that allows businesses to offer takeout and delivery options without the extra costs and logistics of a dine-in experience.听
Online food ordering and food service delivery have made it easier than ever for people to enjoy restaurant-quality meals at home. With an increased demand for food delivery services, more restaurant owners are looking into the ghost kitchen and restaurant trend.听
Is a ghost restaurant a business idea that you want to explore? Let鈥檚 get down to the basics of, 鈥淲hat is a ghost kitchen?鈥 and what a virtual restaurant brand can cost you.听
What Is a Ghost Restaurant or Ghost Kitchen?
A ghost restaurant or ghost kitchen is a restaurant that doesn鈥檛 have a storefront like normal. It doesn鈥檛 provide the opportunity for consumers to have a dine-in experience. However, meals can be prepared and then sent out through various food delivery platforms. These include DoorDash, Grubhub, UberEats, or in-house delivery.听
The meaning of a ghost kitchen refers to a smaller restaurant concept with a virtual brand. With that being said, there are fewer staff and a smaller footprint with a business model like this. This means there鈥檚 no need for or. Instead, you might look into allocating funds for di