Labor Day Restaurant Promotions

Kick off September with a bang by setting up some Labor Day restaurant promotions to take advantage of the holiday weekend. This holiday is a great way to entice customers to enjoy the warm weather and good food before the fall season and creating a promotional game plan is key to doing it right.

How do you run a promotion for a restaurant? By offering different discounts, setting up the menu and restaurant layout and targeting sports groups are the easiest ways to promote business and get people into the restaurant. We have some exciting and enticing different promotions below that can help you make the most of this 3-day weekend.

Do Restaurants Close During Labor Day?

No, many restaurants stay open for Labor Day, although this is entirely up to the business. With most of the workforce on a well-deserved holiday, it means Labor Day is a veritable cash cow for many restaurants and bars, as people want to celebrate their long weekend with eating and drinking.

On the other hand, staying open means your employees will not be able to partake in the spirit of the holiday, which could bring down morale. The good news is there are always ways to circumvent this issue and get workers volunteering to take the shift:

• Pay time and a half – Although you’re not legally required to pay your employees time and a half for those who find themselves in business on a federal holiday, most people expect it. It’s also a generous incentive for your money-motivated workers.

• Compensate with a floating holiday – If you find yourself peering into a sea of frowns with no volunteers in sight, you could up the ante by promising a floating holiday for any of those who might want to delay their gratification. 

• Take a partial day – No one said you had to stay open the entirety of the day. Many restaurants find a balance by opening during peak hours and closing in time to enjoy their family’s BBQ cookout.

When deciding to stay open for Labor Day, weigh the pros and cons of each option – with quantitative verification, of course. If it turns out staying open on Labor Day puts you in a deficit, or the profits are marginal, skip it next year. On the other hand, if the numbers are looking good, there’s no reason to fix what’s not broken. 

Kickoff the Football Season

Labor Day unofficially marks the end of summer and the start of the football season. This means that Labor Day is not only the perfect time to lure in happy long-weekend vacationers but also to kick off your football marketing campaign. 

Make your restaurant or bar the go-to destination for fantasy football events and game-day specials for the rest of the season with a few of these Labor Day restaurant promotion ideas:

• Football decorations – Unlike Memorial Day or Halloween, Labor Day is one of those holidays that don’t come with a signature “look.” But maybe it’s time it gets a makeover. Show your support for your favorite players and teams by decorating the space with footballs, jerseys, team colors and anything else you have on hand.

• “Tailgate” party – If your restaurant or bar has an outdoor space, transform it into a tailgate-themed party where patrons can order food and drinks while they play corn hole, horseshoes, ladder golf and any other lawn games you have for the occasion.

• Themed menu items – What better way to get patrons in the mood for what undoubtedly has become a bookmark of the season than eating football-shaped finger foods. Buffalo wings, potato skins, nachos, sliders and more will most certainly jumpstart big appetites.

Offer Badge Discounts 

Labor Day was created to celebrate the workforce and all they do to fuel a free market economy, and who is more deserving of a discount than those who risk their lives every day to make our society safe and civilized. 

But first responders aren’t the only ones who you can show your appreciation for. Underpaid teachers, healthcare workers and students could all use a break when grabbing their next meal.

Hold a Raffles & Giveaways

Since most restaurants and bars are open on Labor Day, you’ll have to start getting creative to beat your competition. Holding a raffle or giveaways will likely gain momentum year after year as word of mouth spreads. If your Labor Day promotions start garnering more interest, you can take a percentage of the proceeds to invest in bigger and better prizes for next year.

• Dinner for two – Grand prize winners can enjoy a dinner for two, all expenses paid. Of course, you can tweak this so there’s a price cap or that it’s only good for 2 entrees and 2 drinks. Really, it’s whatever you’re comfortable giving away.

• Free drink tokens – Give away free drink tokens to children and adults, good for any alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage. If you’re worried about losing too much money, you can always put a cap on what the tokens are good for. For example, no hand-crafted beverages.

• Gift cards – Gift cards are another financially advantageous Labor Day promotion idea because people end up spending more than what was gifted. It’s a win-win. You draw more people into your restaurant with a chance to win and keep them coming back for more.

• Branded merchandise – Not only do people love free things, you can get free advertising. Branded t-shirts, baseball caps, mugs, tumblers, stickers and the like are cheap enough to buy in bulk, and you can always put what’s left up for sale afterward.

• Coupons – For second or third-prize winners – or to anyone who eats and drinks with you that day – hand out coupons. Some ideas are buy-one-get-one-free drinks, kids eat free, 25% off the bill, one free appetizer, etc., etc. 

Outdoor Eating

The last of the summer weather can be enjoyed by eating outdoors on Labor day. Making social media posts or setting up signs about patio seating are the perfect marketing opportunity to have customers enjoy the outdoors before it gets too cold. We have some great tips on getting your patio prepared in our 4 Outdoor Restaurant Patio Ideas article. Some of the essentials you need to ensure that patio eating is the highlight of seating include:

• Setting up – Check that all the tables and chairs are set up on the patio and any umbrellas or awnings are in position. This is also the time to check for any important maintenance, looking that tables and chairs sit flat on the floor and don’t rock. If there are outdoor lights, check all of the bulbs to make sure they are working and any music speakers.

• Cleaning – Make sure the patio is pristine in time for the weekend rush. Sweep away any dirt or leaves that might be covering the floor. Tables should be wiped down and given a thorough cleaning. Umbrellas or awnings can also be wiped clean, especially if summer has been windy and blown dirt around. Don’t forget to perform preventative maintenance and cleaning on any outdoor cooking equipment like grills.

• Table/chair spacing – This is definitely time to check out the patio layout. Make sure everyone from staff to customers has space between chairs and tables to maneuver through. More tables means less space to walk through and that can be difficult on serving staff. 

Menu Ideas

Updating the menu to include labor day breakfast or brunch options is a great way to entice customers to spend their day off eating out. Setting up the specials for the day or that weekend and tailoring it to the summer holiday can separate iconic dishes. Don’t forget to highlight any seasonal summer recipes that are on your menu. If you use any seasonal produce let customers know that the menu will be changing come fall.

Don’t forget about changing up your menu to help promote Labor Day dinner options. People might be asking is Labor Day a grilling holiday? The holiday is right around the end of summer and can be a transition period between summer and back to school time. It is the perfect opportunity to enjoy grilling or grilled food while the weather is still comfortable outside and produce is still in season. If you have a patio this is the perfect place to highlight any grilled dishes or appetizers so customers can enjoy outdoor eating without the cleanup. For more ideas on changing up your menu to celebrate the holiday, check out our article on Crowd-Pleasing Labor Day Menu Ideas for Restaurants. 

Labor Day Catering/Parties

Labor day is a great time to promote catering events or hosting large groups/parties. You can offer holiday promotional deals by group size. Hosting a labor day party for the weekend is a great way to appeal to large gatherings to celebrate the end of summer. Work with customers to offer tailored dinner menus for parties or to help decorate for events. Some important catering or party topics to go over include: 

• Food allergies/diet restrictions


• Party size and private spacing options


• Open bar or alcohol options


• Buffet style or individual dishes