For most multi-location restaurants, start with a location directory on the main website, such as example.com/locations/downtown/. Give each restaurant a short, stable address and use the same pattern across locations. Consider separate subdomains only when a location genuinely needs a separate site and someone is responsible for maintaining it.
The best structure is one your team can update without losing track of old links. Before changing anything, list the pages and addresses you already have, decide who controls the domain, and map every changed address to its replacement. A tidy URL alone will not guarantee search visibility; guests also need working links and a page that clearly identifies the location.
Inventory locations and existing addresses
Start with the actual restaurants, not the website menu. Ask operations for a list of open locations, their public names, street addresses, opening plans, and any upcoming closures or moves. Two restaurants with similar names still need distinct page addresses. Decide how you will distinguish them before creating new URLs.
Next, ask whoever manages the website for a list of current location pages. Include older addresses that still appear in search results, local business profiles, printed materials, social profiles, emails, or ordering links. A page may have more than one address pointing to it, so record the variations you find rather than assuming the navigation menu shows everything.
For each address, note its destination and purpose. Does it lead to a location page, an ordering page, a reservation page, or a closed-location notice? A link that sends a guest straight to one restaurant's ordering menu should not automatically be replaced with a general locations list. Record who owns the link and whether that person can update it.
Confirm who controls the domain registration, domain settings, website hosting, and redirects. These responsibilities may sit with different people or vendors. If access is unclear, resolve that before agreeing to a launch date. The domain ownership guide covers questions to ask about control and access.
Set a naming rule
Choose names that staff can recognize and guests can read. Lowercase words separated by hyphens are straightforward, as in /locations/west-market/. Avoid names tied to a temporary promotion or a manager's name. Decide whether a neighborhood, city, or street name best distinguishes each restaurant, then apply that rule consistently.
Keep a record of the final spelling. If you later rename a location, weigh the benefit of changing its URL against the work of updating links and setting up a redirect. The visible page name can change without necessarily changing the address.
Compare directories and subdomains
A directory puts location pages under the main domain: example.com/locations/west-market/. A subdomain places a label before the main domain: west-market.example.com. Both can lead guests to a useful location page. The operational difference is how your site is organized and managed.
For a restaurant group using one brand and a shared website, a directory is usually the simpler starting point. Staff can follow one naming pattern, link to locations from a shared navigation menu, and maintain a single location list. Ask your website provider whether your team can create and edit those pages, control their URLs, and set redirects when needed.
A subdomain may be worth considering when a location needs a substantially separate site, perhaps because a separate team manages its content or it has a different operating model. That separation can also mean more settings, access permissions, and places to check when something changes. Ask who will manage each site, how shared navigation will work, and whether the provider charges for additional sites or setup.
There is no reason to move an established subdomain solely to make every address look uniform. If guests can find it and your team can maintain it, compare the benefit of moving against the work and risk of changing links. If ordering or reservations sit on another address, ask how the location page will connect guests to the correct destination on mobile.
When comparing providers, the restaurant website builder comparison can help frame broader buying questions. For this decision, focus on URL control, redirects, domain access, and who can make changes after launch.
Map each old URL before changing it
The following worksheet is a hypothetical example. The names and addresses are invented. The restaurant has one shared brand and chooses a directory because one team maintains all three locations. The table records both the destination and the action needed; it is not evidence that any particular website provider supports these redirects.
| Location | Current address | Chosen address | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Market | example.com/west | example.com/locations/west-market/ | Redirect old page to the matching location page. |
| North Pier | northpier.example.com | example.com/locations/north-pier/ | Arrange a subdomain redirect and update local profile links. |
| East Grove | No current page | example.com/locations/east-grove/ | Create the page and add it to the locations list. |
Give each existing page a direct match where possible. West Market should go to West Market, not the home page. For North Pier, check who controls the subdomain and can configure the redirect before removing its old site. East Grove has no old page to redirect, but it still needs a path from the main navigation.
Add rows to your own worksheet for old ordering links, alternate spellings, and any other addresses people use. Include an owner and status in a separate working document if that helps your team track the work. For a closed restaurant, decide whether a useful closure page or another relevant destination makes more sense than sending everyone to an unrelated location.
Ask the person managing the server or website platform to use an appropriate permanent redirect for an address that has permanently moved. Confirm that the old address leads directly to the intended new page rather than passing through several unnecessary redirects. Keep redirects in place while old links may still be in use, and agree on who will maintain them.
Redirects do not update every link for you. Change links you control, including the website navigation and location profiles, to the new addresses. Ask ordering and reservation providers how their links should be updated. Do not assume an old ordering link can be redirected safely to a general page without checking the guest journey.
Test the guest journey and search visibility
Before launch, have a staff member use a staging or preview version if one is available. Open the locations list on a phone, select each restaurant, and check that the name and address match the destination. Follow the ordering and reservation links far enough to confirm they point to the right location, without placing a real order, making a payment, sending a guest message, or dispatching a courier.
After launch, open each old address and each new address in a browser. Check that the old page reaches the intended destination and that the new page works from the main menu and locations list. Test links from locations you control, such as your business profiles. If a link is broken or points to the wrong restaurant, record the address, expected destination, actual result, and person responsible for fixing it.
Ask your website provider how location pages are made available for search engines to discover. Check that new pages are accessible, linked from the site, and not accidentally blocked from indexing. If you use a search console, review its page and sitemap reports after launch. A page being accessible or submitted does not guarantee that it will be indexed promptly or rank for a particular search.
Keep the worksheet after migration. When a restaurant opens, moves, or closes, update the location list, its URL, the links leading to it, and the person responsible. Schedule another check after launch so problems reported by staff or guests have an owner.
Next step: List your current location addresses and identify who controls each one. Then ask Fleksa about restaurant website URL and redirect options, including verified availability in the US, and how your location pages would connect to online ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Should every restaurant location have its own URL?
A distinct page address for each location gives guests a direct link to the restaurant they need. Use a consistent naming rule and make each page reachable from the main locations list.
Will changing location URLs improve search rankings?
A clearer structure can make a site easier to navigate and maintain, but a URL change does not guarantee a ranking improvement. Plan redirects and check discovery and indexing after the move.
Can we keep an existing website and add ordering links?
Fleksa describes an option to keep an existing site and add an ordering button or link. Ask how each location would connect to the correct ordering destination and whether the setup is available for your business.
