WASHINGTON – New research from OpenTable reveals a sharp decline in diners heading to restaurants in D.C. right after President Trump sent federal troops into the area.
Numbers Don’t Lie
The statistics illustrate a significant decline in restaurant footfall, with attendance dropping every day last week compared to the same period in 2024. From Monday, August 11, seated diners in D.C. plunged by 16%, peaking at a staggering 31% drop last Wednesday, just two days post Trump’s order for the National Guard.
Despite Trump’s assertions that Washington is mostly under siege by rampaging gangs and criminal elements, violent crime rates in the city have actually reached a 30-year low. Records show a 35% overall drop in violent crime in D.C. comparing 2024 to the previous year according to the Justice Department.
Before this federal intervention, D.C.’s restaurant scene had been thriving, enjoying 11 consecutive months of increased reservations. Current data indicates that D.C. is the only metropolitan area among the 20 largest tracked by OpenTable that has experienced a dip in bookings for August.
Presidential Claims vs. Reality
During a recent meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump claimed that diners in D.C. have flocked to restaurants, contradicting the data. “Restaurants are more crowded than they’ve been in a long time,” Trump stated.
He continued, dismissing criticism by saying, “All I want is security for our people. People who haven’t dined out in D.C. for years are now returning, and restaurants have been busier than ever over the last two days.”
Furthermore, Trump shared that he’s receiving calls from friends expressing relief about feeling secure enough to enjoy dinner in D.C. again post-takeover.
Local Business Experiences
Khalid Pitts, who co-owns Cork Wine Bar in Northwest D.C., voiced concerns about the downturn after the federal presence in the city. He told us that adverse reactions to the situation have led to decreased patronage.
“Hospitality means making people feel welcome. If they’re anxious about going out themselves, I can’t exactly open my doors to them,” he said, emphasizing that guests have shared feelings of living in a “police state.”
Looking Ahead
The timing of federal actions coincides tragically with the beginning of Summer Restaurant Week, which just started on August 18. OpenTable’s analysis hasn’t yet captured the full impact of this periodic event on the declining reservation stats.
Source:
Insights shared above come from previous reports by FOX 5 DC, data from OpenTable, the Justice Department, and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.
