Market Analysis
Based on restaurant development filings reported through June 25, 2026.

Independent Restaurant Development Remains Broad

The latest reporting period identified 1,188 restaurant opening filings across 49 states and 72 reporting regions. Although filings declined from 1,525 during the previous reporting period, new restaurant formation remained active across the country.

The decline represents a 22% reduction from the prior period but does not change the overall geographic distribution of restaurant development. New filings continued to appear across nearly every major market.

For companies selling products and services to restaurants, independent operators remain one of the largest sources of new business. Every opening creates purchasing decisions involving equipment, foodservice distribution, POS systems, furniture, insurance, payroll, uniforms, signage, marketing, and professional services.

Texas Accounts for Nearly One-Third of All Filings

Texas recorded 357 filings, representing approximately 30% of all restaurant filings during the reporting period.

Most filings were concentrated in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston-Galveston, and Austin-San Antonio.

Florida, California, New York, Georgia, and North Carolina also ranked among the most active states.

New York generated 144 filings, moving into fourth place nationally, with much of the activity occurring in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

South Carolina entered the national top ten during the reporting period.

Rather than being concentrated in only a few downtown markets, filings continued across suburban retail corridors, neighborhood commercial districts, and mixed-use developments.

Casual Dining Leads Restaurant Formation

Casual and family dining represented 50% of all filings, up from 43% during the previous reporting period.

Quick-service restaurants accounted for 22% of filings.

Independent operators continued opening concepts across multiple formats, including full-service restaurants, fast casual, coffee shops, bakeries, pizza, breakfast restaurants, dessert concepts, ethnic cuisines, and neighborhood taverns.

Restaurant Formation Continues

Restaurant filings continue to originate from public records created during the development process.

Examples include alcohol license applications, DBA and fictitious business filings, LLC registrations, building permits, planning and zoning meetings, construction permits, local government filings, and regional business publications.

Depending on the source, projects may first appear one to six months before opening.

Purchasing Decisions Occur Before Opening

Independent restaurant owners typically select suppliers before opening.

Common purchasing categories include foodservice distribution, kitchen equipment, refrigeration, furniture, POS systems, payment processing, accounting, insurance, payroll, uniforms, signage, marketing, security, pest control, waste services, and linen services.

Most purchasing decisions occur before the restaurant opens.

Summary

The June reporting period showed fewer filings than the previous report, but restaurant development remained active across 49 states.

Texas continued to lead the country, New York moved into fourth place, South Carolina entered the top ten, and casual dining returned as the largest restaurant category.

The distribution of filings across 72 reporting regions indicates that new independent restaurant formation continues in markets throughout the United States rather than being concentrated in only a handful of metropolitan areas.

Continue Your Research

Restaurant development is best evaluated across multiple reporting periods.

Source: RestaurantData.com, June 2026 restaurant opening analysis.