BJ's Restaurants (BJRI) Q2 2026: how to test the consumer questions investors asked

BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: BJRI) reported second-quarter 2026 results on Thursday, Jul 30, 2026. Investors asked four consumer questions. A fund can answer each with a Neon Blue study well before the next earnings call.

How can a fund test whether BJ's Tuesday and Friday programming still pulls traffic without crushing check?

To test whether BJ's Tuesday and Friday programming still pulls traffic without crushing check, a fund can run a Neon Blue promotion study on recent guests, comparing programmed weeknights with other visits. Neon Blue returns visit frequency, average ticket and basket size and promotion sensitivity by day.

From the call. Comparable sales rose 6.5% with continued traffic growth. Most average-check compression came from Tuesday and Friday, with Tuesday tied to ice cream programming. Management expects more balance between traffic and mix as menu renovation continues. Management didn't say how many Tuesday guests would still come without the ice cream deal.

The study

• Audience. US adults 21 and older who ate at BJ's in the past 3 months. Split by whether their last visit was on a programmed Tuesday or Friday versus another day, cut by household income.
• Questions to field.
  1. On your last BJ's visit, was there a Tuesday or Friday deal involved? [Yes, Tuesday / Yes, Friday / No / Not sure]
  2. If that deal were not available, what would you have done? [Still come / Come on another day / Gone elsewhere / Stayed home]
  3. How likely are you to visit BJ's next Tuesday for ice cream or dessert programming? [0 to 10]
  4. Which keeps check healthier for you on deal nights? [Adding pizza or a shareable / Ordering beer or a craft drink / Skipping the deal / Ordering a full entree]
  5. What would make a BJ's weeknight deal feel worth it without feeling cheap? Tell us in your own words.
• What comes back. Deal dependence, check mix and visit intent by day. Example layout below. It works as a pre-earnings consumer check.
• Time to answer. Well before the next earnings call.

Run this study free as your first Neon Blue study

Example output layout (illustrative, not a real result)

The shape of a Neon Blue promotion-mix output. Cells are blank on purpose. Nothing here is data about BJ's guests.

How can a fund test whether remodeled BJ's restaurants raise return visits?

To test whether remodeled BJ's restaurants raise return visits, a fund can run a Neon Blue experience study comparing guests of remodeled and non-remodeled restaurants. Neon Blue returns revisit intent and ranked atmosphere drivers.

From the call. Remodeled restaurants are delivering traffic growth that exceeds the rest of the system, and operators continue to raise guest satisfaction. The company completed five remodels in the quarter and keeps investing in facility condition and atmosphere. Management didn't say how long the remodel traffic lift lasts after the honeymoon.

The study

• Audience. US adults 21 and older who ate at BJ's in the past 6 months. Split by whether their usual BJ's looks recently remodeled, cut by visit frequency.
• Questions to field.
  1. Does your usual BJ's feel recently updated? [Yes / No / Not sure]
  2. Compared with a year ago, how often do you go? [More often / About the same / Less often]
  3. Which part of a remodel would most bring you back? [Dining room look / Bar area / Patio / Cleaner restrooms / None of these]
  4. How likely are you to choose BJ's over another casual dining spot in the next 30 days? [0 to 10]
  5. What about the restaurant almost made you go elsewhere? Tell us in your own words.
• What comes back. Revisit intent and atmosphere drivers by remodel status.
• Time to answer. Well before the next earnings call.

Run this study free as your first Neon Blue study

How can a fund test whether BJ's pizza, beer and Pizookie occasions still win groups?

To test whether BJ's pizza, beer and Pizookie occasions still win groups, a fund can run a Neon Blue occasion study on recent group diners and sports or celebration guests. Neon Blue returns occasion choice and brand-switching reasons.

From the call. Management framed Q2 as celebration season and said BJ's should remain the restaurant of choice when people want to get together. Menu renovation and programming continue, with more balance expected between traffic and mix. Management didn't size how much of the traffic is group occasions versus everyday meals.

The study

• Audience. US adults 21 and older who ate casual dining with a group of three or more in the past 3 months. Split into BJ's group visitors and non-visitors, cut by occasion (sports, birthday, everyday).
• Questions to field.
  1. Have you been to BJ's with a group in the past 3 months? [Yes / No]
  2. Which BJ's items matter most for a group visit? Pick up to two. [Pizza / Beer or craft drinks / Pizookie / Entrees / Slow roasted items]
  3. How likely are you to pick BJ's for your next group night out? [0 to 10]
  4. If BJ's were not available, where would the group go? [Another casual chain / A local spot / Stay home / Delivery]
  5. What makes BJ's work for a celebration? Tell us in your own words.
• What comes back. Group occasion intent and switching destinations by segment.
• Time to answer. Well before the next earnings call.

Run this study free as your first Neon Blue study

How can a fund test how guests react as BJ's average check pressure eases?

To test how guests react as BJ's average check pressure eases into the back half of 2026, a fund can run a Neon Blue price and mix study on recent guests, cut by deal-night versus regular-menu buyers. Neon Blue returns who adds items back as deals normalize.

From the call. Management expects average check pressure to ease in Q3 versus Q2 and anticipates returning to moderate average check growth by Q4, with commodity inflation also expected to subside. Restaurant-level margins expanded despite about 5% food inflation. Management didn't say which menu items guests will add back first.

The study

• Audience. US adults 21 and older who ate at BJ's at least twice in the past 3 months. Cut by whether they usually use a weeknight deal and by household income.
• Questions to field (dollar steps are test levels you set).
  1. Compared with last year, is your usual BJ's check [Higher / About the same / Lower / Not sure]?
  2. If deals were lighter next quarter, what would you add back? [An appetizer / A drink / A Pizookie / Nothing / I'd visit less]
  3. If your usual meal cost $2 more without a deal, what would you do? [Nothing different / Order less / Go less often / Go elsewhere]
  4. How important is a deal in choosing BJ's versus another casual dining spot? [Very / Somewhat / Not very / Not at all]
  5. What would make you spend more on a normal weeknight at BJ's? Tell us in your own words.
• What comes back. Mix recovery and price-increase tolerance by segment. Useful as a consumer channel check.
• Time to answer. Well before the next earnings call.

Run this study free as your first Neon Blue study

How Neon Blue runs consumer studies for funds

Neon Blue runs studies on simulated audiences grounded in real people's data. A fund brings a question tied to one variable in its model and gets the answer back by segment. See consumer research for funds.

• Scoped to the variable. Each study is built around the audience and questions behind one model line. Neon Blue answers the consumer question, never the call on the stock.
• Simulated, and kept separate. Simulated answers are kept separate from real responses. Bring your own audience data, or add live follow-ups through the AI interviewer.
• Private. Client questions stay private and are never used for training. Neon Blue has completed a SOC 2 Type II audit.
• Cost. A consumer study costs a fraction of a round of expert calls, and the first study is free.

Run your first study free

What to watch before BJ's Q3 2026 call

• Check versus traffic balance. Management expects check pressure to ease in Q3 and moderate check growth by Q4. Test: whether deal-night guests still come as programming shifts.
• Remodel cadence. Five remodels completed in Q2 with traffic outperformance. Test: revisit intent after guests notice updates.
• Menu renovation. Further renovation should rebalance traffic and mix. Test: purchase intent for renovated entrees versus deal desserts.

FAQ

What consumer questions came out of BJ's Restaurants' Q2 2026 earnings call?

Whether Tuesday and Friday programming still pulls traffic without crushing check, whether remodels raise return visits, whether pizza, beer and Pizookie occasions still win groups, and how guests react as average check pressure eases. Each can be tested with a Neon Blue study.

How can I test BJ's Tuesday deals before BJ's reports Q3 2026?

Run a Neon Blue promotion study on recent guests, comparing Tuesday deal visitors with other nights. You see who still comes without the deal and what they add to protect check.

How long does a Neon Blue study take?

A Neon Blue study comes back well before the next earnings call.

Does Neon Blue give a view on BJRI stock?

No. Neon Blue answers the consumer question behind a variable in your model. It doesn't make stock calls.