Industrious Operators Move Beyond the Status Quo

Dale J. Venturini

By Dale J. Venturini, President/CEO, RI Hospitality Association (RIHA)

The COVID-19 pandemic is mostly behind us, but supply chain issues, workforce woes and faltering consumer confidence levels continue to limit our businesses’ ability to operate as they normally would. These problems are farreaching and affect every industry, but they have had incredible consequences for the hospitality industry, specifically.

While over the course of the last three-plus years many longstanding businesses have shut down and others have come and gone, there have been many success stories documenting transformation within the industry and the development of exciting new concepts, ideas, and business models.

We are not going back to 2019; the “status quo” now is not what it was then.

Restaurants, hotels, and other industry-based businesses that survived (and even thrived) these past few years have adapted to changing consumer demand, and developed their identity, business model, and brand reputation.

For restaurants, paring down menus to focus on crowd-pleasers and signature items, prioritizing the takeout experience and shifting towards a more sustainable business model are recurring

I encourage any industry operators and managers reading this column to ask yourself, “what makes my business unique? What do we want our customers to remember us for?”

The answers to those two questions should be the foundation of your business model.

The market is oversaturated with copycat concepts, and in order to stand out from the crowd, your business should be providing exceptional value, an extraordinary product, and/or unrivaled convenience. Gone are the days of sacrificing quality for convenience; most consumers, especially those on the younger side, expect to “get what they pay for” when choosing where to dine or stay overnight.

Our industry should not fear change, but instead embrace it. Consumer trends indicate what works and what does not, and to ignore that data is to remain stuck in the past. The current cutthroat economy can be likened to a “survival of the fittest” scenario. In the case of the hospitality industry, those who refuse to evolve will make room for those who are less stubborn.

On which side of history do you want your business?

Flo’s Clam Shack 2 locations

4 Wave Ave.

Middletown

Flo’s Drive-in

324 Park Ave. Portsmouth

“Famous for clams since 1936”

The name of this establishment is telling of what they do best…but, serving the BEST clams in RI is not all they do. Flo’s Clam Shack has been featured on the Travel Show, Food Network “Best Street Eats,” & “Best Thing I Ever Ate,” which showcases their extraordinary clam dishes. Check out their full menu at www. flosclamshacks.com/.

Long ago, New Englanders always ate their clams steamed, raw on the half shell, or chopped in “chowda.” In 1936, a Massachusetts man suggested that clams may taste good fried. Since that day, New Englanders have sought out the very best fried clams and when Flo’s Drive-in opened in 1936, they knew to look no further! For all these years, Flo’s has consistently offered fresh, tender, sweet, plump clams lightly dusted in a batter and fried just right. To taste what New Englanders have been craving for years, everybody knows……YOU GOTTA GO TO FLO’S!

Flo’s INSISTS on serving only the finest and freshest seafood at all times!

Two Little Fish 300 Atlantic Ave. Westerly

Two Little Fish is the BEST family-owned seafood restaurant located at Misquamicut Beach. They are famous for their fish and chips, hot lobster rolls, clam fritters, and chowder. They serve generous portions of fresh seafood at reasonable prices, and their most popular items are scallops and whole belly clams. They also serve beer and wine, accept credit cards, and have a kids menu. Two Little Fish is a beachside clam shack, roadside drive-in, and an employer with deep roots in the community. They are also concerned enough for the future to ban all plastics for ocean health.

So, if you are enjoying a day at Misquamicut Beach and want a classic New England seafood experience, you don’t even need to get into the car. Just walk over to Two Little Fish, situated right on Atlantic Ave. This eatery is a tradition amongst the regulars and a hit amongst the newer patrons. Two Little Fish is a place where you should bring your appetite and eat large, while enjoying the spectacular view and cool ocean breezes.