The restaurant industry added more than 12,000 establishments in 2012, the largest increase since 2007, according to the National Restaurant Association. Florida led the nation by adding a net 1,751 eating and drinking place establishments in 2012, followed closely by California with a net increase of 1,721 units. Texas added 1,296 restaurant establishments in 2012, while no other state registered growth in excess of 1,000 units.
In percentage terms, Tennessee led the way with a solid 9 increase in eating and drinking place establishments in 2012. Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota and Indiana all added eating and drinking place locations at rates of more than 3.5 percent in 2012.
In contrast, New Jersey lost a net 111 eating and drinking place locations in 2012, a 0.6 percent drop from its 2011 level. Kansas lost a net 78 eating and drinking place establishments in 2012, while the eating and drinking place sector in Massachusetts declined by a net 66 locations.
