01
In St. Louis, Demographics becomes the tiebreaker because $55,000 income bands.
Strategic Location Insights
Best Restaurant Location in St. Louis
At $22/sqft with 70 foot traffic score, St. Louis's moderate-density commercial zones serve 2.8M residents earning $55K on average.
Capital requirements for St. Louis: $255K startup facing $55K earning households at 4.6x leverage.
72/100 opportunity score
2,820,000 metro residents
$55,000 average income
20/100 launch timing score
Cautious - High Preparation
293K
Resident Base
$55K
Income Base
Moderate
Competition Level
5
Top Sectors
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St. Louis, United States
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Competitor Locations
Opportunity Zones
High Traffic Areas
2,820,000 potential customers in metro area
500+ businesses helped
Real-time market data
AI-powered recommendations
Market Analysis
Viability Index: Restaurant in St. Louis
Proprietary metrics for St. Louis's restaurant landscape
72
/ 100
Market Opportunity
Based on 7 comprehensive market factors
Solid Opportunity
Financial Overview
Average Startup Cost
$255,000
Industry Success Rate
18%
Expected ROI Timeline
18-36 months
Customer Draw Radius
800m
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Unique Market Intelligence
The 3M Consumer Opportunity
quantitative site ranking
Market Position
St. Louis positioning
Capital requirements for St. Louis: $255K startup facing $55K earning households at 4.6x leverage.
Location costs run $22/sqft (70 walkability score), totaling $22,000/mo for standard retail footprint.
Consumer base of 2.8M at $55K average income drives a $155B economic opportunity.
Moderate competition meets moderate growth at 4.6x startup-to-income ratio.
Market viability index: 56/100 (factors: 4.6x funding, 70/100 walkability, $22/sqft costs).
Healthcare and Biotechnology anchor St. Louis's $55K-income economy.
At 2.5% growth and moderate density, market is in equilibrium phase.
$255K startup. 56 local income-months to break even.
Competitive Position
National ranking for restaurants
Score: 72.5/100. 2.8M people. $55K income.
Restaurant costs $255K to open. Income ratio: 0.22x.
Traffic: 70. Rent: $22/sqft. Income: $55K.
Moderate growth. Moderate competition. Score: 72.5.
2.8M metro. $22/sqft rent. 70 foot traffic.
$255K startup. $22,000/mo rent. 56 income-months to recoup.
Score 72.5. Average conditions. Execution decides success.
$155.1B total income across 2.8M people.
Strategic Recommendations
Actionable strategies tailored for St. Louis
Moderate growth. Moderate competition. Plan accordingly.
Traffic: 70. Rent: $22/sqft. $22,000/mo for 1000 sqft.
$55K income. Standard pricing. Test and adjust.
Restaurant: $255K to open. 56 income-months to recoup.
Traffic 70. Balanced. Mix storefront and digital.
2.8M metro. $55K income. 2-3 locations possible.
$264,000/yr rent. 480.0% of local income. Factor that in.
Moderate growth. Moderate competition. Execution decides success.
Launch Timing & Momentum
Align your opening window with market-ready signals
Entry Signal
Cautious - High Preparation
Current conditions in St. Louis favor waiting over rushing. Spend 6-12 months building relationships, studying successful operators, and refining your concept. Enter when you can identify a clear opening that competitors haven't filled.
Timing score: 20/100
- ⚖️ Moderate competition - balanced market entry
Seasonal Levers
- Holiday dining
- Summer outdoor seating
- Event catering opportunities
National Benchmarks
How St. Louis surpasses
based on 70/100 traffic metrics
The $55,000 income profile in St. Louis positions it 36% higher than the $40,492 national norm.
Commercial rates averaging $22/sqft in St. Louis sit 32% below the $33/sqft market standard, enabling competitive pricing.
Pedestrian activity scoring 70/100 in St. Louis falls short of the 79/100 average by 11%.
The 2.8M regional population trails average markets (3.8M) by 27%.
Restaurant Market Analysis for St. Louis
Why St. Louis for Restaurants?
- Metro population of 2,820,000 provides large customer base
- Average income of $55,000 supports restaurant spending
- Moderate business density indicates healthy economic activity
- Strong foot traffic opportunities throughout the city
- Strong demographics opportunities throughout the city
Restaurant Success Factors
Foot traffic
Essential
Demographics
Essential
Competition density
Essential
Parking availability
Essential
Visibility
Essential
Local cuisine preferences
Essential
Seasonal Considerations for St. Louis
Holiday dining
Summer outdoor seating
Event catering opportunities
St. Louis Neighborhood Guide
Zone-by-zone breakdown of St. Louis's commercial areas
Downtown St. Louis
High Potential
Highest foot traffic in city
Premium pricing potential
Diverse customer base
Business District
Strong Weekday
Office worker demographics
Peak lunch & after-work hours
Catering opportunities
Suburban Areas
Growth Area
Family-oriented demographics
Lower competition density
Ample parking available
St. Louis vs Other United States Cities for Restaurants
| City | Population | Avg Income | Market Score | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis ⭐ | 2,820,000 | $55,000 |
|
Current City |
| Atlanta | 6,307,000 | $71,000 |
|
Explore → |
| Plano | 7,760,000 | $102,000 |
|
View data → |
| Frisco | 7,760,000 | $127,000 |
|
Compare → |
| Fort Lauderdale | 6,166,000 | $73,000 |
|
Check it → |
Market Signals
Restaurant Insights Unique to St. Louis
Every business + city URL now shows a different mix of ratios, rent dynamics, and demand levers.
02
St. Louis leads Atlanta by -18 opportunity points, justifying elevated location costs.
03
St. Louis achieves 72/100 on restaurant viability metrics, leveraging $55,000 income levels and 70/100 foot flow.
04
Moderate competition meets moderate growth at 4.6x startup-to-income ratio.
05
$155.1B total income across 2.8M people.
FAQ
Restaurant FAQs for St. Louis
Each answer references real St. Louis data so this section is unique across the site.
What operational lever matters most for restaurants in St. Louis?
Demographics should lead your playbook because $55,000 income bands when launching in St. Louis.
How does St. Louis compare to other restaurant markets?
St. Louis outranks Atlanta by -18 points for restaurants, reflecting stronger fundamentals across income, traffic, and competition.
What playbook works best for restaurants in St. Louis?
$55K income. Standard pricing. Test and adjust.
What makes the St. Louis market distinctive?
Moderate competition meets moderate growth at 4.6x startup-to-income ratio.
Data Sources & Methodology
Our analysis combines multiple authoritative data sources
Economic Data
- World Bank Open Data
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- National Census Bureaus
Business Intelligence
- Ease of Doing Business Index
- Global Innovation Index
- Industry Association Reports
Demographics
- UN Population Division
- Municipal Open Data Portals
- Consumer Expenditure Surveys
Real Estate
- Commercial Real Estate Listings
- CoStar Market Analytics
- Local Zoning Databases
Methodology Note: Our opportunity scores are calculated using a weighted algorithm that considers population density, income levels, competition saturation, commercial rent costs, and industry-specific success factors. Data is refreshed quarterly from authoritative sources. Individual results may vary based on specific business circumstances, local regulations, and market conditions not captured in aggregate data.
Ready to Open Your Restaurant in St. Louis?
Cautious - High Preparation with a 72/100 opportunity score, moderate competition, and a 70/100 foot traffic index. Current conditions in St. Louis favor waiting over rushing. Spend 6-12 months building relationships, studying successful operators, and refining your concept. Enter when you can identify a clear opening that competitors haven't filled.