The restaurant industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of that there is inflation, a tight labor market and supply chain issues. 

But Arizona Restaurant Association President Steve Chucri is optimistic. He says even though about a thousand Arizona restaurants were lost in 2020, new places are sprouting, and some shuttered restaurants are reopening. Also, hiring numbers seem to be heading in the right direction.

“What we’re seeing is more people coming back because A, they’ve missed it, or they see the opportunity, or they tried something else and they didn’t like it," Chucri said. 

But Chucri says challenges remain. Some have left the industry altogether.