When asked where they had seen the greatest amount of operator investment so far in 2025, restaurant and development + design readers were split.
35% said renovating and upgrading existing locations was where they’d seen the greatest operator investment in 2025, and 35% said developing new units (both traditional and nontraditional) was where they’d seen the most investment.
An additional 12% said they’d seen a great deal of technology investment, from new POS systems to loyalty systems and more. 10% said they’d seen the most investment in outdoor areas, from drive-thrus to patios. Finally, 8% said a mix of other things. One said operators were focusing on upgrading equipment. Some said operators had ceased investment entirely. One noted that spending was on hold as they let the tariff policy issues play out. One said they were investing instead in employees.
rd+d regularly surveys subscribers on the state of restaurant development and design. This survey was fielded in June 2025. Subscribe to The Pulse to get rd+d’s surveys and results delivered to your inbox six times a year.
