Booze-and-book pairings are on consumers’ wish lists lately, according to Yelp’s recent trend report.
Searches for book bars are up 102% year-over-year, tracking data between August, 2023 and 2024. It seems that book lovers prefer to browse with a martini or glass of wine in hand, and these spots are springing up to cater both to solo readers and those looking to sip a drink in a comfy nook surrounded by books, friends and a bartender.
“This month, we’re seeing book bars gain traction as more people turn to reading as a favorite pastime,” said Tara Lewis, Yelp’s Trend Expert. “In February, Yelp's Sheconomy Report reported a resurgence in bookstore popularity attributable to Romantasy bestsellers and celebrity book clubs. Now users are seeking new and cozy places to catch up on their reading while enjoying the social atmosphere of being out.”
Finely ground green tea is the base for matcha, and popular drinks such as matcha lattes, smoothies and the like are traditionally green in color. But the crowded beverage sector is constantly evolving and expanding with new flavors and formats to stay competitive, and multi-colored matchas are the latest hook.
Strawberry gives matcha a red hue. | Photo: Shutterstock
Yelp data reveals that orange matcha leads the trend, increasing 595% in searches year-over-year. Strawberry is next, up 240%, followed by blueberry at 176%, red matcha at 100%, and lavender with a 78% surge. Green matcha is so last year.
The deluge of pumpkin drinks started as soon as the calendar flipped to August, but that’s not the only reason Yelp is taking note of the “Summerween” trend.
Searches for Halloween events grew 130% this August compared to 2023, with “spirit Halloween” up 83%. Even related activities like pumpkin patch and corn mazes got a bump, rising by 24% and 30% respectively.
“Summerween has surged in popularity this year thanks to the earliest-ever debut of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, stores stocking fall items as early as July and social feeds already sharing Halloween costume ideas,” said Lewis. “We’re seeing Yelp users want to extend the life of each season and enjoy the flavors, traditions and cooler weather that come with the holiday season for more than one month, starting with Halloween.”
For its report, Yelp identified trends within searches by measuring the frequency of the phrases mentioned per million searches on the platform. Trend statistics are noted as year-over-year comparisons.
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