In the fast-paced and increasingly competitive restaurant industry, location is king—but the rules of the game have changed.
Too many still rely on outdated tools like radius maps, basic traffic counts, and speculative foot traffic estimates. That’s why INRIX Site Selection is helping restaurant brands rethink how they identify, evaluate, and secure high-performing locations using real-world, real-time movement data.
The Traditional Site Selection Playbook is Outdated
Most restaurant chains still base expansion decisions on a radius-based view—drawing circles around potential sites and assuming everyone within the boundary is a viable customer. But people don’t behave according to static circles. They follow dynamic, real-life patterns; commuting during certain hours, favoring certain routes, and making dining decisions based on accessibility, convenience, and timing. INRIX delivers actionable insights about where people go, how they get there, and when they’re most likely to stop and dine.
Benefits of Retail Site Selection
Choosing the right location is crucial for restaurant success and INRIX Site Selection helps restaurant brands stay ahead:
- Identify Sites That Drive Revenue: Instead of relying on outdated traffic counts, INRIX pinpoints locations where real consumer movement patterns align with your restaurant type—be it fast-casual, drive-thru, or full-service.
- Validate Site Assumptions: Go beyond the lease pitch. INRIX mobility insights confirm whether a location attracts your target customers, is easy to access, and aligns with your brand’s operational model.
- Benchmark New Sites Against Top Performers: Discover what makes your best-performing locations successful — such as traffic volume, dwell time, and visitor origins. It also identifies new sites with similar mobility characteristics.
- Define True Trade Areas: INRIX uses real-world travel patterns to define authentic catchment areas based on drive times and actual consumer behavior.
- Forecast Future Performance: Stay ahead of the curve by modeling how trends like remote work or new developments may alter mobility.
With INRIX, restaurant brands gain a competitive edge by using real mobility data to make informed, confident location decisions.
Smarter Insights for Restaurants and CRE Teams
INRIX empowers both restaurant operators and their commercial real estate (CRE) teams and franchise developers to better serve their clients. By analyzing real-time foot traffic, vehicle patterns, and public transportation access, CRE teams can:
- Match tenants with the right spaces
- Predict site performance with confidence
- Tailor pitches and reports with data-backed insights
From local independents to national chains, this leads to faster lease decisions and more successful openings.
Make Your Next Location Your Best Location
In today’s rapidly evolving market, restaurant success hinges on more than location — it depends on the right location, backed by the right data. With consumer habits shifting and traditional site selection methods falling short, relying on guesswork is no longer an option. With INRIX, you can select sites with precision, predict performance with confidence, and scale your business with a smarter, data-driven strategy. INRIX Site Selection helps companies move beyond assumptions and into strategic, data-driven growth. From understanding real-world travel patterns to forecasting future demand, INRIX gives restaurants, developers, and real estate professionals the intelligence they need to choose locations that aren’t just visible—they’re viable. Learn more at inrix.com/industries/site-selection/ or download the Site Selection Brochure.