The feeling of going out to eat and enjoying a meal with friends and family can be a very quiet, slow moving, and calming experience. At other times, it can also be very fast paced, loud, and a bit hectic. Which of those you experience often depends on what month it is and the setting at a restaurant, as the pace of things can be drastically different here in summer vs. in winter. Some people like the fast-paced, loud and very upbeat energy that you’ll typically find during the summer, while others seem to prefer a slow, calm, and quiet night, which is the norm in what many people call the “off season.” Typically, the off season is during fall and lasts until early spring. I asked many people, including restaurant owners, everyday goers, and just some people of the Hayward community to find which season is preferred between the two.
One Hayward local said, “I love going out and eating with my mom, she’s older so she has a hard time hearing things, so we prefer a quiet and calm setting.” I spoke with this lovely gentleman when he and his mother came to eat at The Boulevard, which is where I work. From what I’ve seen and heard, most Hayward locals prefer to go out during the off season because it’s much less crowded and easier to enjoy.
David Marsh, a restaurant owner in Minong, said, “Owning a restaurant is a lot of work and commitment. In the summers, it’s a lot easier to get business flowing, but in the winters it’s harder to reach the right amount of profit to stay going… I like restaurants a lot more when they’re busy.”
As a server myself, I prefer to work during the busy season, but like many locals, I would rather go and sit down during the off season. Although we love our tourists and enjoy seeing them come to appreciate and support us, sometimes a slow day is what’s needed to soothe the soul.
