The Lunch Rush That Never Came

TODAY’S STORY

Workers are back in the office, but restaurants are selling fewer lunches.

Many people are finding that picking up lunch is too pricey. One study found that U.S. workers spent $21 on lunch in 2024, up from $16 in 2023. Lunch starts to look much more expensive when you factor in daily spending on coffee, parking, and commuting.

Nationwide, the number of lunches purchased from restaurants and other establishments declined by 3 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, falling to 19.5 billion. That figure is even lower than the number recorded in 2020, during the peak of the pandemic work-from-home period.

The shift poses a serious threat to restaurants, cafes, delis, and other food establishments in office areas that depend on the nine-to-five workforce for business.

Some restaurants and economic development groups are strengthening their efforts to bring back the lunchtime crowd. For example, a new online ordering system at High Street Place Food Hall in Boston lets guests skip the lunch rush lines.

But for now, the lunch crowd remains a tough nut to crack.

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Thanks for reading,
Kieran & Justin Ryan