Do Streetscapes Still Matter for Customer Ratings of Eating and Drinking Establishments in Car-Dependent Cities?

TL;DR

This study investigates how indoor and outdoor aesthetics, including streetscapes, influence customer ratings of eating establishments in different urban contexts, emphasizing the varying impact based on city car dependency levels.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis combining computer vision and regression to assess streetscape effects on customer satisfaction across diverse urban environments.

Findings

Indoor and outdoor aesthetics significantly affect ratings.

Streetscape quality's influence is reduced in car-dependent areas.

Context-sensitive planning can improve customer experiences.

Abstract

This study examines how indoor and outdoor aesthetics, streetscapes, and neighborhood features shape customer satisfaction at eating and dining establishments (EDEs) across different urban contexts, varying in car dependency, in Washington, DC. Using review photos and street view images, computer vision models quantified perceived safety and visual appeal. Ordinal logistic regression analyzed their effects on Yelp ratings. Findings reveal that both indoor and outdoor environments significantly impact EDE ratings, while streetscape quality's influence diminishes in car-dependent areas. The study highlights the need for context-sensitive planning that integrates indoor and outdoor factors to enhance customer experiences in diverse settings.