By Adam Pagnucco.
In 2020 – possibly the worst year for U.S. restaurants since the Great Depression – Montgomery County restaurants lost employees and wages paid at about the same rate as regional averages, but its net loss in number of restaurants exceeded any other large jurisdiction in the area. Let’s see how the county did in 2021, which was a rebound year for the industry.
Establishment Count
Between 2020 and 2021, the number of restaurants in Montgomery County fell from 1.667 to 1,621, a net loss of 46 restaurants. That’s remarkable considering that 2021 was a year in which patrons became vaccinated and starting returning to in-person service. It’s also noteworthy because the net loss in restaurants in 2021 (46) exceeded the net loss of the year before (25). Here’s how the county’s net loss of 2.8% of its restaurants compares to other large jurisdictions in the region.
Employment
Between 2020 and 2021, restaurant employment in Montgomery County rose from 22,808 to 24,487, a net gain of 1,679 jobs. The year before, MoCo’s restaurant industry lost 6,987 jobs. Here’s how the county’s net gain of 7% of its restaurant jobs compares to other large jurisdictions in the region.
Total Wages Paid
Between 2020 and 2021, total wages paid in Montgomery County’s restaurant industry rose from $557 million to $660 million, a net gain of $103 million. The year before, MoCo’s restaurant industry $143 million in wages paid. Here’s how the county’s net gain of 19% of restaurant wages compares to other large jurisdictions in the region.
On all three measures, the county’s restaurant industry fell short of regional averages. Yes, 2021 was a rebound year for MoCo restaurants on two of the three measures, but the county saw less of a rebound than its peers elsewhere in the region. In Part Four, we will combine these stats for 2020 and 2021 and examine their net effect.