Americans Are Becoming Early Birds Like Their Grandparents

Author Carla Rea

July 20th, 2023 5:42 AM

Young people are becoming early birds

Stop laughing at your grandparents early bird special, because it’s hot right now.

More people are suddenly acting like early birds for some reason. Restaurants across the country say about 10% of restaurant guests are being seated between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. This is up from 5% a few years ago.

Even in Las Vegas, off Strip restaurants are now closing earlier, because people aren’t eating late like they did in the past. Closing the kitchen at 8:00 p.m. is becoming the new trend.

Grandma and Grandpa Were Ahead Of Their Time:

If the early bird trend keeps going, our grandparent’s are going to have to start eating dinner at noon: The Wall Street Journal just did a big article on this emerging trend: Suddenly, a lot more of us are EARLY BIRDS for some reason.

Restaurants are closing earlier, because it doesn’t make financial sense to stay open. Getting a reservation at 7:00 p.m. can be easier than at 5:00 now, but in the past it was the complete opposite. I’ve noticed this myself over the past year or so. Seems I can get a 4:00 p.m. or a 7:00 p.m. reservation, but it’s tougher for those in between hours.

Uber even reports that trips to restaurants between 4:00 p. m. and 5:00 p.m. are up almost 10% since 2019. And rides to restaurants after 8:00 p.m. are down about 9%.

Restaurants aren’t the only ones adjusting. In New York, Broadway shows are starting earlier now. 8:00 p.m. used to be the normal time for a Friday show. But now a third of them are raising the curtain at 7:00 p.m. on Fridays.

Why More Early Birds?

So why are people shifting from night owls to early birds? No one’s sure, but here are two interesting theories:

It’s become more important for younger generations to be healthy, avoid alcohol, and get a full night’s sleep – not a abd thing, that’s for sure. So that’s one possible factor.

Working from home might be another one. You don’t have to drive home and get ready before you go out, so you can meet up with people earlier. Plus, skipping out of work early is easier if your boss isn’t there, right?

As a radio morning show host I say, embrace the early bird culture, and 4 p.m. dinner!

Carla Rea is the morning show co-host on “The Mike and Carla Morning Show" on 96.3 KKLZ, in Las Vegas. She has been working with her partner and friend Mike O'Brian for the past 25 plus years. At KKLZ for 12 years. Carla Rea is a Gracie Award winner. She started out in talk radio, "when talk radio was still fun" Rea says. Prior to, and along with doing the morning show, Carla is also a comedian. You may have seen her on Conan O'Brien, Evening at The Improv, Showtime, or several comedy clubs across the country. Carla also worked as a light feature reporter at KSNV/NBC Las Vegas, going behind the scenes at various shows, and restaurants on the Las Vegas strip. As a content creator 96.3 KKLZ, Carla writes in a sarcastic, cheeky, unapologetic way on Las Vegas, movies, TV, celebrities, and this thing we call life.

Millennials And Gen X Say Gen Z Missed Out

Millennials and Gen X are talking on Reddit about the things from THEIR childhood that Gen Z never got to experience, like the simple excitement of AOL Instant Messenger, and “you’ve got mail!”

Every generation has nostalgia that the newer generations are totally missing out on, and will never fully understand. Like how Boomers would walk 10 miles to school, in two feet of snow, barefoot, uphill both ways, with hot potatoes in their pocket to keep them warm.

Millennials & Gen X Say Gen Z Is Missing Out!

There’s a thread on social media where Millennials and Gen X are talking about the things from THEIR childhood that Gen Z never got to experience. Many said it was nice when all of their bad fashion choices, relationships, and screw ups didn’t end up on the social net. AMEN!

And remember when you would go to a concert and WATCH it? Seeing your favorite band, without millions of phones in the air blocking your view. One person mentioned specifically, “Someone saying something idiotic to someone and getting punched in the face for it, and not hiding behind a keyboard.”

Parents letting their kids run free, all day. Stranger Things was actually a pretty accurate depiction of how much freedom kids had. Riding your bike wherever and being back when the streetlights came on. Playing outside ,constantly, every day, and just making sure you got home for dinner. Not many obligations, maybe practice a few times a week for basketball, or baseball, or whatever.

Handwritten letters, mix tapes, feeling safe at school, and being able to move out on your own, because it was still relatively affordable. You went to events and actually talked to people, instead of TikTok being more important, than what was actually taking place in front of you.

And of course, I have to mention it – porn. If you wanted porn you literally had to go on an expedition to find old porno mags in the woods. Or under your friend’s dad’s bed. But I digress…

Scroll down to see what we are talking about right from the mouths of Millennials And Gen Xer’s:

1. The excitement of getting back developed film
Getting those pictures – and negatives – back was one of the greatest, and simplest pleasures in all of life! Seemed like it took forever to get them, but once you did, everyone had to get together to look at them. Now it just takes forever to find that ONE picture you’re looking for on your phone.
2. Browsing the video rental store
You spent a good amount of time just looking for something to watch on Friday night. Especially if all five copies of “Back to the Future” were already gone.
3. Checking, and reading, the 'TV Guide"
The TV Guide was an actual small magazine. We’d get all excited about a show or movie that would be on later in the week, and it made the whole week more bearable! Having everything on-demand has ruined that excitement – forever.
4. Musical involvement.
Spotify, Pandora, etc. have made everything so available that it’s destroyed a sense of connection to music. When you were only buying a few albums, cassettes, or CDs every year, you got to know those albums inside and out.
5. Mix tapes
If you really liked someone you took a whole lot of time to make them a custom mix tape, that represented every facet of your relationship! It wasn’t easy, but you did it, because only YOU could put those songs on one tape!
6. Handwritten letters
There was really no other way. You wrote letters to family, friends – often even if they lived just lived across town! To this day if I get a handwritten letter, I am absolutely blown away at the fact that someone took that time. Then, of course, I feel obligated to write them one…
7. Being uncontactable
If no one was able to contact you for a weekend, it wasn’t a big deal. Now people take it more personally if you don’t respond immediately.
8. Politics
Politics was something you heard about occasionally, and rarely invaded your life. Now it’s 24/7 with every issue being politicized.
9. Going to the movies
Going to the movies without having to mortgage your house was an actual thing. Oh – and a mortgage. That used to be a fun thing, too…
10. Longer attention spans
Teachers say that middle and high schoolers can barely sit still through a movie in class. Yikes!