Temporal and Spatial Dynamics in Seasonality: Evidence from Restaurant Patronage

<p dir="ltr">Understanding restaurant demand necessitates attention beyond volume to its variation over time, space, and in response to disruption. This dissertation establishes a multi-level, integrated framework for analyzing restaurant patronage dynamics, advancing theoretical understanding of demand variability in the service sector. The first study refines seasonality conceptualization. It identifies structural characteristics such as timing shifts, skewness, and overlapping cycles, moving beyond traditional peak-trough metrics. This study also evaluates existing index sensitivity to these features, informing demand forecasting. The second study integrates spatial context, demonstrating how cluster density and business diversity influence seasonal patterns; high-density clusters amplify seasonality, while diversity stabilizes demand across time and consumer segments. The third study examines resilience, utilizing the COVID-19 pandemic as an example to assess structural breaks and recovery trajectories in restaurant demand. By disaggregating travelers and residents, this study reveals heterogeneous impacts, emphasizing segment-specific strategies. Collectively, these chapters advance theory by linking micro-level demand structure, meso-level spatial configuration, and macro-level shocks into a cohesive framework. Findings offer practical guidance for restaurant operators and policymakers in managing demand variability, enhancing resilience, and supporting small business ecosystems by identifying the structural forces that shape patronage beyond aggregate trends.</p>