From small diners and bars, up to fancy five-star restaurants, before the pandemic, there were more than 579,000 eating and drinking places operating nationwide.
Until recently, almost $600 billion was spent in these establishments, which employed more than 11 million workers, according to the Census Bureau. Prior to the pandemic, our orders were taken, and food and beverages served, by some 2.1 million waitstaff, nearly seven out of 10 of whom were women.