WHERE THE CITY EATS: SPATIAL CLUSTERING, DISTANCE-DECAY AND PATRONAGE RHYTHMS OF EATERIES IN CALABAR, NIGERIA

This study re-examines the spatial organisation and patronage dynamics of eateries in Calabar City, Cross River State, Nigeria, through an urban hospitality geography lens. It responds to the need to understand food-service outlets not only as individual commercial units but also as spatially organised urban services that shape mobility, tourism experience, waste pressure and neighbourhood access. The study used georeferenced field data from 47 operational eateries, proprietor questionnaires, customer questionnaires, field observation and spatial-statistical analysis. Nearest-neighbour analysis showed that eateries were strongly clustered across the city (Rn = 0.37, z = -8.23, p < .001), with a more intense cluster in Calabar Municipality (Rn = 0.27, z = -8.63, p < .001) and a dispersed pattern in Calabar South (Rn = 1.51, z = 2.94, p = .003). High population density, proximity to tourism attractions, security and nearness to competitors emerged as major locational drivers. Patronage declined significantly with distance from eateries (Spearman rho = -.68, p < .001), while time of day significantly shaped patronage, chi-square(2) = 125.23, p < .001, with afternoon and evening periods dominating demand. The study contributes a planning-oriented interpretation of food-service clustering and recommends corridor-based eatery planning, decentralised food-service nodes, transport-sensitive siting, hygiene certification, digital eatery mapping and stronger urban waste governance.