Americans Are Becoming Early Birds Like Their Grandparents

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.

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.

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!

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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...

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.

Politics was something you heard about occasionally, and rarely invaded your life. Now it's 24/7 with every issue being politicized.

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...

Teachers say that middle and high schoolers can barely sit still through a movie in class. Yikes!