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De-risking the map: Why traditional site selection is failing modern restaurants
Whether you're looking to scale your footprint, optimize existing markets or get a clearer picture of where your target customers are spending their time, understanding this next wave of AI and location intelligence is becoming essential for restaurant leadership. Join us for a free webinar, June 23, diving into the future of restaurant analytics/
June 9, 2026 by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com
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ClaudeRelying on traffic counts and static demographic data to choose a restaurant location has become a massive gamble. Hybrid work schedules, shifting suburban migration patterns and evolving consumer habits mean that traditional foot traffic data is often outdated before the ink on a lease even dries. A corner that looks bustling on a Tuesday morning might be completely dark by Friday afternoon.
Because the ground is shifting so quickly beneath our feet, restaurant brands are forced to completely rewrite their approaches to site selection, marketing and strategic decision-making. As privacy regulations tighten and we move toward consent-driven data strategies, the brands winning the real estate game are moving away from generalized AI models and rigid dashboards. Instead, they are turning to dynamic systems built on trusted, high-integrity location intelligence.
To look at how data science is changing the physical footprint of the industry, I am sitting down with Gladys Kong, CEO of Azira, ot 2 p.m. EST, June 23 for a live discussion: "AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight." It's free. Register here.
A new framework for growth, marketing and operations
When the cost of opening a single unit can run into the millions, relying on historical data is a risk operators can no longer afford. During our conversation, Kong and I will look at how AI-powered analytics and mobile location data are transforming the three most critical areas of restaurant execution:
- Precision site selection: Instead of just measuring how many people pass a storefront, modern location intelligence isolates who they are, where they are going, and true market demand. We will discuss how AI identifies emerging market gaps and predicts a site's viability before you make a capital investment.
- Dynamic, behavior-based marketing: Once a site is secured, localized marketing can't rely on generic radius targeting. We'll look at how understanding real-world diner patterns allows brands to build consent-driven campaigns that reach the right consumer at the right daypart, maximizing opening-month ROI.
- Proactive strategic decision-making: Beyond real estate, high-integrity data helps leaders pivot faster. We will examine how brands use these insights to make predictive operational adjustments to combat rising costs and changing competitive landscapes.
Learning from a data pioneer
Kong brings more than 20 years of experience in data science and technology leadership, having previously pioneered geolocation-powered data intelligence solutions for Fortune 500 brands as the leader of UberMedia. Her insights into translating complex mobile data into practical restaurant growth strategies are incredibly valuable for any operator trying to figure out where to place their next expansion bet.
Whether you are looking to scale your footprint, optimize an existing market, or simply get a clearer picture of where your target customers are actually spending their time, understanding this next wave of AI and location intelligence is becoming essential for restaurant leadership.
Join us for this deep dive into the future of restaurant analytics.
AI and the Future of Restaurants: From Foot Traffic to Predictive Insight
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Register here
About Cherryh Cansler
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