The Tao to Becoming New York’s Highest-Grossing Restaurant

March 23, 2017 5:00 am
NEW YORK - JULY 14:  A general view of the atmosphere at the Getty Images and Johnnie Walker party during the 2008 MLB All-Star Week at Tao on July 14, 2008 in New York City.  (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/WireImage)
NEW YORK - JULY 14: A general view of the atmosphere at the Getty Images and Johnnie Walker party during the 2008 MLB All-Star Week at Tao on July 14, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/WireImage)
NEW YORK - JULY 14: A general view of the atmosphere at the Getty Images and Johnnie Walker party during the 2008 MLB All-Star Week at Tao on July 14, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/WireImage)
Tao has become the highest-grossing restaurant in New York City. (Andrew H. Walker/WireImage)

 

New York City’s Tao posted almost $34 million in food and beverage sales in 2016, the highest total by an independent restaurant in NYC (and third highest in the nation).

How does it achieve this massive haul? There are a number of reasons, ranging from a 300-seat dining room that is massive by Manhattan standards to a keen understanding of how their audience evolves, not just over the week but during the course of an evening.

Tao
(Michael Kovac/Getty Images for TAO)
Getty Images for TAO

 

Part of the recipe is to keep customers on the location, funneled from the bar to the restaurant to the club, which uses celebrity DJs and performers as a draw.

Co-founder Rich Wolf explains these secrets to Kate Krader at Bloomberg Pursuits.

To read the full article, click here.

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