The Slowest Month of the Year: What To Do with Extra Time as a Restaurant Operator

We all know January is often the slowest time of the year for restaurants. In 2019, the NPD group found that restaurants often experience more than 10% decline in sales vs. their busiest month (historically June).

As restaurateurs find themselves with more time on their hands, why not use some of that time to ensure the longevity of your restaurant?

Whether restaurant owners and operators have just one hour, five hours in a week, or 10 hours over the next few weeks, they can make major improvements to their space and operations that will be felt throughout the entirety of 2026. 

Here are some suggestions should restaurants find themselves with a few extra hours to tackle those projects they’ve been putting off for months.

One Hour: Replace Floor Mats and Address a Common Fire Hazard

Even if you just have 60 minutes in your schedule, you can make progress on improving your restaurant.

One option is to spend that time ordering and replacing internal floor mats – yes, those with the curled edges – before someone stumbles and gets hurt. Slips, trips and falls are one of the leading causes of insurance claims so it’s always the right time to mitigate the risk.

You can also accomplish the most common recommendation that our risk control team makes for restaurants and bars: purchase an approved greasy rag storage container to help prevent spontaneous combustion fires. Traditionally, these containers have been used in woodworking, auto repair and by other businesses who utilize oils, varnish, paint thinners, etc. Oily waste cans with self-closing lids can be purchased at most home improvement and hardware stores or online retailers. Look for the UL listing or the FM Approved markings to ensure compliance.

Five Hours: Create a Better Defense Against Icy Season 

We recommend procuring ice melt (which can be better than salt for pets and grass), then teaching your staff (and maybe even yourself) how to use it to prevent ice accumulation and reduce slippery conditions. After removing accumulated snow, apply a thin, even layer over all walking surfaces. Wear gloves to protect your hands while using a cup for small areas and a lawn fertilizer spreader for larger areas. Keep ice melt at the door to spot treat entrances and sidewalks periodically. And don’t forget about pre-application before storms.

Then, spend time walking around the building and identifying areas that are subject to a freeze-and-thaw cycle. Where is there a puddle at noon that could turn into a sheet of ice by 5:00 p.m.? These areas are hazardous and should be checked and salted more often.

Ten Hours: Prevent Freeze Damage

As you can see, a lot of our recommendations are cold-weather related as these items may have been overlooked during the busy holiday season. If winter has already arrived, it’s still better late than never.

Many parts of the country are no stranger to arctic air masses this time of year. This type of weather system brings both bitter cold and wind chills that create dangerous conditions for those in its path, affecting not only people, roads, and vehicles, but building infrastructure, too. Frozen pipes can be a concern in buildings during the cold months which, if left unaddressed, can burst and cause further structural damage. We recommend insulating exterior spigots (and disconnecting exterior hoses); sealing all exterior cracks, holes, windows and doors to keep the cold air out; and also sealing and insulating interior pipe stacks, chases and enclosed spaces, especially those with water pipes that are most vulnerable near exterior walls.

The silver lining of the quiet January season is the ability to both tackle tasks that often get pushed aside during the busy season as well as taking time to rest after a hectic holiday season. If you can, make time for both and enter the busy Valentine’s Day season rested and ready.

This information is provided as a convenience for informational purposes only.  It does not constitute legal or professional advice. It is provided to assist you and not to establish compliance with any law, rule or regulation.