Podcast: Orlando’s restaurant scene

I recently joined Cheryn Stone on her podcast for WMFE, Engage, to talk about rising costs and economic pressures causing challenges for restaurants in Central Florida.

Some have been forced to close or seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Small, independently owned restaurants are particularly vulnerable. These businesses struggle with high labor and food costs, coupled with rising rents, which makes survival difficult in the current economic climate. 

Larger chains and restaurants backed by investment groups are better positioned to weather financial challenges, though even some of those have fallen on hard times.