Key Takeaways
- More than half (57%) of singles say they’ve met or pursued a date at a retailer this year. Singles also took their chances at chain restaurants, with 67% saying they’ve met someone at these spots.
- Target (59%) tops the list for hottest shoppers, while Walmart was rated #1 for its meet-cute potential, primarily driven by men (56%).
- Starbucks dominated the dating economy on the dining side, ranking above the competition for both attractiveness and date potential across the country.
This holiday season, singles aren’t just shopping for gifts — they’re shopping for romance.
According to the new 2025 DatingNews Holiday Hotspots Survey, Target’s aisles are filled with America’s hottest shoppers, Walmart is fueling in-store meet-cutes, and Starbucks has officially become the country’s top destination for holiday flirtation over lattes.
The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults reveals where singles are finding the hottest people, the real-life romantic tension, and the most promising date potential — from festive big-box stores to chain restaurants and coffee shops.
Retail Hotspots: How Singles Rate America’s Biggest Stores
Contrary to popular belief, retail stores are still hotspots for targeting potential dates. And our study has the results to back it up.
About 57% of surveyed singles say they’ve met someone IRL in a retail store this year, proving that sparks can still fly at America’s biggest stores. And these stores topped the list for their matchmaking capabilities:
Target Leads in Attractiveness
Target led the list for being a hotbed for attractive shoppers. Well over half (59%) of all singles agreed that Target has the hottest holiday shoppers, with men (39%) leading the pack in this belief.
While 23% of women agreed with this stance, 43% believed Best Buy had the hottest shoppers, showing Best Buy’s popularity among female shoppers.
Holiday shopping itself is proving to be surprisingly social overall, showing that in-person chemistry is still alive and thriving.
Walmart (Of All Places) Tops the List for Retail Meet-Cutes
While Target wins on the hotness meter, Walmart edges out every other store for holiday meet-cute potential, with one demographic giving it a major boost.
Men were more likely to favor Walmart (56%) when scouting date potential. Women, on the other hand, favored Target (57.7%) for meet-cutes, with Walmart (52.8%) and Sephora (46%) close behind.
These results show that retail stores aren’t just for knocking out holiday wishlists, they can also help daters find the match they’ve been wishing for. Long lines, crowded aisles, and festive chaos are turning everyday shopping into real-life rom-com moments.
Restaurants & Coffee Chains: Starbucks Is America’s Ultimate Meet-Cute Destination
Retail stores aren’t the only places where singles are connecting this holiday season. In fact, typical first date destinations are also making the list. Our study shows that these spots can be electric even before a first date is mentioned.
Starbucks Leads the Nation in Both Attractiveness and Date Potential
When the scene shifts from shopping carts to coffee counters, Starbucks becomes the undisputed favorite: 65% of singles say Starbucks has the hottest customers.
But it’s more than just a place to admire hot customers from afar. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of surveyed singles say it’s the #1 holiday meet-cute location nationwide. That means singles are actually meeting or pursuing potential partners there.
Starbucks, though it led across genders and age groups, was particularly popular among Gen Z. About 73% of Gen Z ranked Starbucks as the top destination for meet-cutes, compared to 66% of millennials. Gen Z also rated Dunkin’ second (42.7%) in its top five, underscoring the generation’s love for coffee shops.
Chain Restaurants Still Hold Strong as Classic Date-Potential Spots
While Starbucks rules supreme in the hearts of Gen Z, chain restaurants are still holding strong in the romance department among singles, even becoming hubs for first-time romantic encounters.
According to our study, these classic date-night chains perform well for both attractiveness and date potential:
- Olive Garden: 38% for meet-cutes; 36.8% for attractiveness
- The Cheesecake Factory: 37% for meet-cutes; 39% for attractiveness
- Texas Roadhouse: 33.49% for meet-cutes; 32.7% for attractiveness
- Outback Steakhouse: 33.1% for meet-cutes; 32.9% for attractiveness
The Cheesecake Factory was rated high (40.5%) among millennials, with Outback (32.9%) and Olive Garden (33.7%) also cracking their top five. Gen Z also favored the Cheesecake Factory (39.2%) and Olive Garden (38.2%).
And 67% of singles say they’ve met or pursued a date at a chain restaurant — making these spots unofficial “third places” for holiday romance.
Regional Differences Reveal America’s Holiday Romance Map
Holiday romance varies widely depending on where you shop and dine. Our findings uncovered regional differences in how singles make IRL connections across the country.
Northeast: Coffee Culture Meets Classic Chains
In the Northeast, Starbucks (65.2%) dominates the dating economy, showing the region’s heavy interest in coffee culture. Dunkin’ (38%) also ranked dramatically higher in the Northeast than anywhere else in the country — making its only top five appearance.
The next closest competitors after Starbucks were the classic restaurant chains, Olive Garden (41.4%) and The Cheesecake Factory (38.3%).
On the retail side, Macy’s (41.5%) and the Apple Store tied for meet-cutes while Walmart (38.3%) won the race for attractiveness, though Target wasn’t too far behind (35.6%).
South: Comfort Food + Holiday Romance
Starbucks also won out in the South for meet-cute potential. But interestingly, another regionally distinctive pick ranked high on the list. Texas Roadhouse represented and grabbed the second-place spot, with 37.2% of the votes. Outback was also a top performer (36.7%).
Speaking of retail, singles gravitated toward Walmart for attractiveness (34.4%) and chose Target (57.8%) as the top spot for meet-cutes and date potential.
Midwest: “Midwest Nice” and Familiar Favorites
While Starbucks took first place once again here, Midwesterns also leaned toward homey, familiar chains. Olive Garden (36%) ranked high, and Applebee’s (26.8%) made its first top-five appearance here.
As for retail, Target dominated the region’s meet-cute and attractiveness leader. Best Buy (35%) also stood out in terms of attractiveness here, compared to other regions.
West Coast: Coffee, Culture, and Mall Nostalgia
Starbucks continued its winning streak on the West Coast, followed by the Cheesecake Factory (37%) and Olive Garden (40.6%). Applebee’s (25.7%) also cracked the top five in the West for date-potential.
In retail, the West leaned heavily on Target (35.5%) for attractiveness and meet-cutes. Coffee, culture, and nostalgia were consistent across the country — and the West fell in line with this trend.
Move aside, dating apps. Retail stores are still very much in demand for romantic connections this season. Singles are not only finding attractive shoppers but they’re also meeting dates at these classic spots, showing that in-real-life meet-cutes are alive and well. Between long lines and seasonal festivities, singles are definitely finding love in unexpected places.
Methodology
This survey was conducted by DatingNews and Prodege and includes responses from 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The sample was balanced across gender, age, and region. Fieldwork was completed in November 2025. The margin of error for the full sample is ±3.1% at the 95% confidence level.
Media inquiries can be sent to colleen@datingnews.com.
