TikTok, Tight Wallets And Tenets: How Gen Z Is Changing Restaurant Retail

Full article available at Bisnow.

Gen Z is changing the rules for restaurants and retail. In this Bisnow feature, the focus is on how this generation’s habits are shaping everything from menu strategy to real estate decisions. Their impact is big, and it’s only growing.

This group spends differently. They’re budget-conscious but value-driven. They want experiences that feel personal, authentic, and worth talking about. That means brands have to earn their attention through design, storytelling, and cultural fluency. TikTok trends and word-of-mouth carry more weight than traditional ads. At The Culinary Edge, we help clients build for this mindset. Smaller footprints. Flexible formats. Menus that are camera-ready without losing substance.

The article also explores how Gen Z influences site selection. Walkable neighborhoods and mixed-use developments are more attractive than suburban strip malls. These diners want to feel connected to place. That changes how and where brands expand.

One of the biggest takeaways? Gen Z doesn’t separate retail from dining. They see it all as part of one lifestyle loop. The brands that win are the ones who get that and build with intention.

The message is clear. If you’re not designing with Gen Z in mind, you’re already behind.