Behind the Scenes: Cinco de Mayo Prep

2 Min Read By MRM Staff

Staff at one popular Mexican chain start preparations for the next year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration right after the previous one ends. 

“Immediately after the event the team meets to gather feedback and create a recap,” Kurt Pahlitzsch, Vice President of Casual Dining at Doherty Enterprises, franchisee of Chevys, told Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine. “In December, the team begins to plan based on the feedback from that recap meeting and the new ideas that have emerged since then.”

Cinco de Mayo events in the Linden and Clifton, New Jersey stores have grown over the years to include a parking lot bash with DJs, a Mariachi band and giveaways, reflecting a trend seen in other restaurants. According to recent data from SpotOn, its clients saw restaurant spending on Cinco de Mayo increased by 40 percent from 2022 to 2023. In 2018, Womply estimated restaurants saw a 44-percent increase on Cinco de Mayo over a typical day. Last year, the CGA by NIQ On Premise Impact…