Does this time of year feel strange to you? One week you’re slammed with summer traffic, the next it feels like someone flipped a switch. Kids are back in school. Weeknight dinners quiet down. But Saturdays explode with game-day crowds that turn a slow afternoon into a shoulder-to-shoulder rush.
These “in-between” seasons always test us. And 2025 is no exception.
CNN recently reported that the first half of 2025 brought one of the weakest six-month sales growth periods for U.S. restaurants and bars in a decade. In some markets, fewer people are dining out, orders are smaller, and costs keep climbing.
So how do you handle a season like this? You need strength to weather the uncertainty, and flexibility to adapt in real time.
In this issue, we’re spotlighting Garfinkel’s, a beloved Vail, Colorado icon. For over 30 years, they’ve served their community through ski-season surges and quieter off-season months. With GoTab, they’re blending strength and flexibility to thrive in both extremes.
We built GoTab with this balance in mind. Flexible zones let you take orders anywhere, whether the bar, the patio, even a tailgate, without losing track.
Smart KDS routing ensures tickets always reach the right station, whether that’s the kitchen, the bar, or a mobile drink stand.
QR and RFID ordering and payments give guests control, while keeping staff focused on high-value interactions.
And our high-performance handhelds provide the strength and reliability to take and fire orders from anywhere, without bulky card readers slowing things down.
Stay strong and flexible!
Patricia Mejia, GoTab CMO
Also In This Issue
- Our New Partner Spotlight is Intercard. See how this integration makes food, drinks, and play seamless at family entertainment centers.
- In Beyond the Dining Room we share how to extend service to patios, rooftops, food trucks, and pop-ups without extra staff.
- Finally, we share our August Offer, it ends on the 31st.
How Garfinkel’s in Vail CO Blends Tradition with Smarter Tech
For more than 30 years, Garfinkel’s (Garfs to locals) has been a Vail après ski institution. But running a resort-town bar isn’t easy. Seasonal staffing shortages, fluctuating guest volume, and constantly changing conditions demand agility.
That’s why longtime operator Mike Dunlap turned to GoTab. With GoTab, Garf's managers can:
- Update menus in minutes
- Offer location-based discounts
- Access real-time insights through QuickBooks and MarginEdge integrations
“We’ve never done things the traditional way, and we’re not about to start now,” Dunlap said.
Proof came on July 4, when Garfs served 1,200 covers in one afternoon with two fewer staff thanks to their hybrid ordering service model where guests choose between QR codes or servers using handhelds.
With GoTab powering operations, Garfinkel’s continues to deliver its legendary experience—only smarter, faster, and more flexible than ever before. Learn More>
How to Extend Your Service Model Beyond the Dining Room
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Hospitality doesn’t stop at the dining room. Guests expect great experiences on patios, at food trucks, and even in seasonal pop-ups. The challenge? Keeping service smooth without adding extra staff or complexity.
With flexible zones, smart KDS routing, QR code ordering and payments, and high-performance handhelds, GoTab operators can serve guests anywhere. And they can do it faster and more profitably because they don’t need to add extra staff. And with our new payment QR code on printed receipts, even full-service guests can pay and go without waiting for a check. Learn More>
No Wallet? No Problem. GoTab + Intercard Make Guest Spend Easier Than Ever
Our eatertainment customers have been asking for it and now it’s here. GoTab is teaming up with Intercard, the leader in cashless systems for the amusement industry, to make spending at family entertainment centers seamless.
Here’s how it works: instead of guests pulling out a wallet every time they want to reload a game card, staff can now add funds directly to a guest’s open GoTab tab. Whether ordering from a server, bartender, or handheld, food, drinks, and play all flow through the same system.
No extra hardware. No extra steps. Just one integrated platform connecting every part of the experience.
For operators, the benefits are huge: more guest spend, smoother operations, and fewer bottlenecks. For guests, it’s simple: more time playing, less time waiting. Learn More>
Thinking About Switching Your POS? Now's the Time!
We know switching platforms can feel like a big move, especially when upfront costs start to pile up. That’s why we’re rolling out something special this month to help make the leap a little easier.
August Special Offer: 25% Off Hardware and Install Fees
Whether you're ready to upgrade now or just want to explore your options, our team is here to walk you through it. But don’t wait—this offer wraps up on August 31. Learn More>
What Our Customers Are Saying
"Our previous system required servers to take an order, walk it back to the kitchen, and then return to the theater. With GoTab’s handheld devices and QR ordering, guests can place orders directly from their seats. It cuts service time in half.” –Jim Matthes, General Manager, Aloma Cinema& Grill, Winterpark,FL
* Hat tip to our partners at Tried & True Consulting for bringing this success story to life!
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