Shop Small

Three Reasons Why Restaurants Are a Great Way to Shop Small

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Wherever your summer plans take you, whether your hometown or further afield, look to small businesses to help fuel your fun.

Here at Resy, you know we love restaurants. We love to share our favorite spots, both old and new, and spotlight the people who create those memorable meals for us.

Resy and American Express remain committed to supporting small independent restaurants. The most recent example was Every Resy Counts, a reservation drive that encouraged millions of consumers across the country to dine at independent restaurants throughout the month of March 2022. Learn more about the Shop Small movement at ShopSmall.com.

And here are just a few of the myriad reasons why restaurants are a great way to Shop Small this summer.

1. We believe restaurants are the engines of their communities.

Small businesses — and especially restaurants and bars —  are the places that define our neighborhoods. They are the spaces that create and preserve culture.

We see this most overtly in The Classics, our collection of those legacy restaurants that tell the stories of our country — the dining rooms that are irreplaceable, and the timeless operations that have kept pushing into the future.

Within these restaurants are so many indelible moments of the 20th century. They tell the story of the civil rights movement in D.C., the places that were front and center in the march on Washington and also nourished behind the scenes. They tell the stories of immigration in Los Angeles, of segregation in Nashville, and of changing neighborhoods in San Francisco.

In short, restaurants are the fabric of our communities, and have the great power to preserve and enrich our culture.

2. Restaurants are a great way to explore new places.

According to the American Express 2022 Global Travel Trends Report, 81% of respondents agree they want to travel to destinations where they can immerse themselves into the local culture. We believe restaurants are some of the best ways to explore new places.

Furthermore, want to take a guess at the top activity that those consumers are interested in doing to have a positive impact on the local community? Eating and shopping at small businesses.¹

3. Restaurants are fighting for survival.

Now is a very good time to support restaurants. It’s no secret that the last few years have been an extremely challenging time for the restaurant industry. The good news is that many people want to help. According to the American Express 2021 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, 54% of shoppers were eager to support independent restaurants on Small Business Saturday in 2021 reporting that they dined or ordered takeout from a small restaurant, bar or café on the day (up from 48% in 2020).²

We encourage you to lend your support as well. This summer seek out restaurants you love — and show them your love. 

Explore restaurants in the communities surrounding the SiriusXM Small Stage Concert Series presented by American Express.

Explore Restaurants Near Small Stage Concerts


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