Maybe it’s the karmic correction to the cat café craze of a few years ago. Pet lovers are lint-rollering a different sort of fur off their clothing after discovering what some are calling off-leash dog restaurants. The places go further than dog-friendly outdoor cafes by allowing pooches to frolic untethered but supervised in an enclosed area where bum-sniffing is the usual mode of greeting. While they engage in the canine equivalent of swiping right, all under the scrutiny of staff “dogtenders,” mom and dad can indulge in cocktails and a nosh without any tableside begging. The beauty of concepts like Off Leash in Georgia is their dual revenue stream—there’s a cover charge for the dogs, unless their humans pop for a “membership”—and the frequency they promise to generate. For $365 a year, Spot or Luna is entitled to unlimited visits.
- 50 Great Ideas 2024
- Late-night minigolf
- A sustainable straw springs from tequila making
- Robot phone orders
- Listen to loyal fans
- The welcome drink
- Picturing an attractive culture
- Follow the football
- Make AI your hyperactive labor screener
- Robot woks rock
- Can I have your number?
- Subsidized childcare to cure callouts
- Going after groups
- Over-the-counter ice
- Climate proof your greens
- A smart bet
- Keep hot sauce from walking away
- Tales of the tats
- Spin those albums
- The Apple-style menu event
- Let ChatGPT be your HR department
- Phishing test
- The delayed BOGO
- Say goodbye to guest checkout
- Dinner as decor
- Coasters send a signal--discreetly
- Hive seating
- Off-leash dog restaurants
- Putting waste to work
- The BeerBoard
- Upcycling waste into ice cream flavors
- Repurposing ingredients
- Big Chicken takes off into space
- Punching down-market
- Housemade 'Cheese-Its' become menu star
- $2 shake toppings
- Pancakes transform to tacos
- Go for gold
- N/A pairings for omakase
- Fewer drink sizes
- Size does matter in recruitment
- Because travel is good for the soul
- Looking more broadly for childcare solutions
- A CEO without a home perch
- Find people where they are
- Coming through for couriers
- Two-tops with phone privileges
- Another kind of digestion
- Sunglasses with dinner
- Raise the bar
- Dry age fish like steak