If you're referring to the not so franchised restaurants, I've always suspected it has to do with them being open weekends and wanting to give their staffs some semblance of a "weekend".

I managed a few restaurants and bars over the past few years and my best guess would be as Brandon stated it is financially driven.

Unfortunately if you get to know most bar owners, giving a staff a semblance of a weekend if furthest from their minds. It's always financially driven!!

During the slow season, restaurants and bars close early, never open or have small staffs to make their numbers (limiting operating costs, etc.)

This was always heated discussions in the manager meetings as many people think you desert patrons when they don't know the store hours. Other restaurants say people aren't coming anyway, so why waste the money of opening.

We used to beat the slow season by staffing only a salary manager on slow nights.

That is the frustration I was speaking to in manager meetings. Closing on random days is a great way to alienate local customers who want to get out and try new food on Monday or Tuesday nights.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I was looking for a place to eat for the
evening meal on a Monday. I am rarely
in town during the lunch hour on weekdays.

My husband and I discovered that
Empire Wok in Jordan is open on Mondays! We have enjoyed their food the past two Mondays. Terrific buffet!