Restaurant reservations in Washington, D.C. saw a notable decline following President Trump's federalization of the city's police force. OpenTable reported a drop of 16% on the day he invoked the D.C. Home Rule Act, with further decreases of 27% and 31% in the following days. August typically marks a slow period for the city's restaurants, yet this year's figures are particularly striking as D.C. previously showed improvements in reservation numbers for 11 months. Local restaurant officials attribute part of the downturn to increased federal presence, while some uncertainty remains regarding other seasonal factors impacting dining.
"Restaurant reservations in D.C. plummeted last week, dropping 16% on Monday... 27% on Tuesday, and 31% on Wednesday compared to the same days in 2024."
"There's always been this expectation that reservations drop in August, but the added visibility of federal agents and troops on the streets can't be ignored- it's contributing to the downturn."
"Ariel Pereira, a server at Osteria Al Volo, noted he has 'absolutely' seen a decline in diners, estimating only 40% of the dining room is being sat."
"Prior to Trump's police takeover, D.C. had improved in reservation numbers for 11 consecutive months on a year-over-year basis."
#washington-dc-restaurants #restaurant-reservations #trump-administration #federal-police-presence #dining-decline
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