Diner Food...

[Bill Pritchard]

Got my auto insurance renewal for my Chevelle from MK Insurance today....premium increase of $2 (two dollars). Thank you, Tamara

[Vern B]

Small Ma and Pa diners are between a rock and a hard spot because they’re at the end of the delivery chain. They don’t have any say in what their costs for supplies is. Many Baby Boomers bailed on eating out during the pandemic and aren’t coming back.

The pandemic and inflation has given corporate America a license to steal and many are taking advantage of it. Unfortunately for small businesses they’re in the unenviable place of collecting their money from the public and losing customers at the same time that can’t, or won’t pay the higher prices.

This same topic has come up 4-5 times among friends in the past couple weeks, so it’s on everyone’s mind and most are doing as we are, cutting back.

One of our local favorite places used to be $25-30 for lunch, now it’s, $55-65 and includes
$4.99 for ice tea or soft drink. 3% surcharge for cost adjustment, plus 3% surcharge for credit card.

[WILMASBOYL78]

The best one I have seen so far concerns the bar bill at a nice joint.

Couple folks ordered martinis...the drinks were $18/each plus $4/ea. "mixing charge'...

I make my martinis at home...

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by WILMASBOYL78

The best one I have seen so far concerns the bar bill at a nice joint.

Couple folks ordered martinis...the drinks were $18/each plus $4/ea. "mixing charge'...

I make my martinis at home...

Must have been "shaken, not stirred"...

[Pro Stock John]

I'm still supporting non-chain fast food restaurants in Chicago, the one-off hotdog/burger/sub type places... Mr D's, Nottoli, Bob-O's, Frannies.. etc.

But we are questioning our interest in nicer places for dinner, last time we went out we really didn't think it was worth it... Italian place in Roscoe Village.

[JRSully]

Living in a town that has over 85 Bars and Restaurants within a square mile, I can tell you that business is as cutthroat as it's ever been, not for the faint of heart...They primarily rely on people coming in from other areas as the locals are pulling back on paying the increases in their prices. I have seen places open up, rave reviews, 2 hr wait and then 12 months later, locked up and gone.. IMO the demographic that "does not care what things cost" is growing smaller by the hour. Tough business these days for sure

[Jeff H]

I just saw an article in the paper today showing that NJ is increasing the minimum wage (for non tip workers) to $15.13 at the beginning of the year and it was part of the law recently passed that includes the increase each year based on CPI. So businesses will need to pay workers more each year and probably charge more for food/services/etc. Inflation won't come down in this scenario so it's not sustainable. On the upside, I did pick up a package of bacon for $3.99 for the first time in over 2 years but I'm sure that's short lived at this point. Be prepared for a lot of places going out of business in the next couple of years and I wonder who's going to end up paying for it in the long run?

[SuperNovaSS]

How much do you make an hour Jeff?

Jason

[Jeff H]

Originally Posted by SuperNovaSS

How much do you make an hour Jeff?

Jason

I don't anymore. I was salaried and I worked a ton of extra hours (without compensation) and even missed out on a ton of vacation days (went 5 years without taking a full day at one point) and holidays to help the company succeed. Now I'm fixed income living off my IRA/401K so the inflation/cost increases has hit hard. I did grab a hoagie from my nearby place yesterday but I'll get 4 lunches out of it and it tastes really good. But based on the hours I put in I was definitely below $24/hour.

[cheveslakr]

I support the local diners as much or more than ever, I don't think they're gouging anyone, it's their cost plus. What I don't support is street food, or trailer restaurants which charge similar prices and lack the service.