Once the lease is signed, most of your location decisions are already made, and rent catching up to revenue is the tightest margin squeeze showing up on P&Ls right now. This episode walks through a four-question pre-lease checklist: realistic rent-to-revenue ratio, review terms, fit-out reality, and exit conditions. Because the most expensive decisions in hospitality are the ones you make without knowing what they actually cost.

This week's actions:

1. Pull out your current lease and read it properly — know your next review date, your make-good, and your assignment clauses.

2. Calculate your current rent-to-revenue ratio and map where it lands across the next two review cycles.

3. Identify one clause you'd negotiate differently if you were signing today.

The lease decision is one of the places we spend the most time in a Pantry Review. If you want another set of eyes on the economics before your next review, reach out to us via the email below.

Next episode: Making the most of where you already are — because most venues are leaving revenue on the table in the space they've already got.

How to connect with Open Pantry Co.

Reach out to us here: connect@openpantryco.com

Subscribe to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: Link

Open Pantry Co. Website: Link

Open Pantry Co. Instagram: Link

Open Pantry Co. YouTube: Link

Open Pantry Co. LinkedIn: Link

Open Pantry Co. Linktree: Link