The Lunch Rush That Never Came

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Workers are back in the office, but restaurants are selling fewer lunches.

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Many people are finding that picking up lunch is too pricey. One study found that U.S. workers spent $21 on lunch in 2024, up from $16 in 2023. Lunch starts to look much more expensive when you factor in daily spending on coffee, parking, and commuting.

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Nationwide, the number of lunches purchased from restaurants and other establishments declined by 3 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, falling to 19.5 billion. That figure is even lower than the number recorded in 2020, during the peak of the pandemic work-from-home period.

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The shift poses a serious threat to restaurants, cafes, delis, and other food establishments in office areas that depend on the nine-to-five workforce for business.

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Some restaurants and economic development groups are strengthening their efforts to bring back the lunchtime crowd. For example, a new online ordering system at High Street Place Food Hall in Boston lets guests skip the lunch rush lines.

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But for now, the lunch crowd remains a tough nut to crack.

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