Coffee shops and snack bars / District of Columbia
How many coffee shops and snack bars are in District of Columbia?
The Census Bureau counted 266 coffee shops and snack bars with paid employees in District of Columbia in 2023. That is 25.5% more than in 2017.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA · 2023
The count
266
coffee shops and snack bars with paid employees
- Employees
- 4,202
- Average per site
- 15.8
- Change since 2017
- +25.5%
- State rank
- 45 of 51
What the number means
District of Columbia had 266 coffee shops and snack bars in 2023, ranking number 45 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Together they employed 4,202 people and paid $112 million in annual payroll, an average of 15.8 employees per site.
These businesses make up 1.12% of every employer establishment in District of Columbia, close to the 1.02% national share. A site count is not the same as the number of companies: a chain with 40 locations counts 40 times.
26% of coffee shops and snack bars in District of Columbia have fewer than 5 employees, against 33% across the U.S.
District of Columbia holds 0.3% of the nation's coffee shops and snack bars and 0.3% of all U.S. employer establishments, so, measured against the state's overall size, the trade is about as common as in the country as a whole. The most common size class is 10 to 19 employees (81 sites). Average payroll per employee is $26,622, against $21,205 for the U.S. trade.
Size of the businesses
| Employees per site | Share | Sites | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 69 | 26.0% | |
| 5 to 9 | 57 | 21.5% | |
| 10 to 19 | 81 | 30.6% | |
| 20 to 49 | 49 | 18.5% | |
| 50 to 99 | 9 | 3.4% | |
| 100 to 249 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| 250 to 499 | 0 | 0.0% |
Count since 2017
Index: 2017 = 100. Employer establishments only. 2017 count 212; 2019 count 240; 2022 count 242; 2023 count 266. Employment +22.4% since 2017.
Biggest other trades in District of Columbia
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 974 | 29,842 | +7.4% |
| Child day care | 303 | 4,282 | +11.8% |
| Beauty salons | 154 | 1,050 | −15.8% |
| Fitness centers | 121 | 2,175 | −2.4% |
| Janitorial services | 115 | 5,139 | +19.8% |
| Pet care services | 42 | 399 | +16.7% |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 37 | 1,772 | +19.4% |
| General auto repair | 31 | 160 | −3.1% |
Coffee shops and snack bars in nearby ranks
| State | Sites | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 485 | 42 |
| Montana | 427 | 43 |
| Alaska | 355 | 44 |
| South Dakota | 265 | 46 |
| West Virginia | 241 | 47 |
| North Dakota | 235 | 48 |
All states for coffee shops and snack bars · Every trade in District of Columbia
Questions
How many coffee shops and snack bars are in District of Columbia?
The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 266 coffee shops and snack bars with paid employees in District of Columbia in 2023. That ranks District of Columbia number 45 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Is the number of coffee shops and snack bars in District of Columbia growing?
Between 2017 and 2023 the count grew (25.5%), from 212 to 266. Across the United States the count changed by +31.0% over the same period. These years include the 2020 pandemic.
Does this count include self-employed owners with no staff?
No. County Business Patterns covers establishments with at least one paid employee. A sole proprietor with no employees is counted in a separate Census series called Nonemployer Statistics, which this site does not use yet, so the real number of people working in this trade is higher than the figure shown.
Read this before using the number
These counts describe how many businesses already exist. They say nothing about demand, profit, competition near you or how much any owner earns, and we make no estimate of income. Check local licensing, costs and rules before acting on any figure here. See the disclaimer.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.