Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Minimum wage hikes sending restaurants the way of the shopping mall?
Fox Business ^ | 2018 January 15 | Brittany De Lea

Posted on 01/15/2018 11:31:47 PM PST by CutePuppy

Eighteen states raised their minimum wages at the start of 2018, but increasing labor costs are strangling the dining industry so much that restaurants could soon face the same fate as shopping malls.

"I think you're going to see thousands of restaurants close their doors," Willie Degel, "Restaurant Stakeout" host and CEO of Uncle Jack's Steakhouse, told FOX Business. "Fine dining is going to go by the wayside."

The downward cycle seems daunting to Degel and other industry insiders. As costs rise, only so much of the burden can be passed along to consumers in the form of price hikes before they decide they cannot afford the expense.

"When we increase in prices ... we see guest count go down," Degel noted. "The consumer is not willing to pay for the experience then." ..... < snip >

..... In addition to raising prices, businesses often cope with minimum wage increases by firing staff. Last week, casual dining chain Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (NASDAQ:RRGB) announced it would eliminate busboy positions at 570 restaurant locations. Degel said he got rid of busboys at his New York restaurants two years ago, and has more recently turned to staff cuts "across the board." ..... < snip >

..... Many business owners have turned to technology to both compensate for the loss of labor and to reduce expenses. Some restaurants, including Chili's and Applebee's, have already replaced servers with tableside tablets for placing orders and paying bills. ..... < snip >

..... In addition to the 18 states and 20 cities that raised their minimum wages on Jan. 1, three more states will implement a hike later this year. ..... < snip >

(Excerpt) Read more at foxbusiness.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: business; economy; fightfor15; malls; minimumwage; restaurants; service
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-53 next last
The problem for large national chains, in particular, is that an increase in minimum wage (mandatory expense) in some states may force "voluntary" increase in other states, to keep workers from resenting the disparity and joining the "fight for $15".

Meanwhile, companies like GrubHub (GRUB) are capitalizing on the situation and the technology to provide the consumers the experience of restaurant meal without visiting the physical place where the meal was made. Couple it with comfortable home setting and a glass / bottle of wine bought at significantly lower prices than at restaurant, no hassle of driving, finding parking or paying for valet and/or dressing up... and you have a better, cheaper experience. There are now restaurant/gourmet "kitchens" that have no tables or servers, just doing catering orders by delivery.

1 posted on 01/15/2018 11:31:47 PM PST by CutePuppy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

Simple, cut back on the tip.


2 posted on 01/15/2018 11:41:31 PM PST by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

Good insights, CP. I hadn’t thought of tech and the delivery model overhauling food service the way it did retail, taxi, and video delivery. Why go to a movie theater when you can have your own private home big screen with content streamed to it? Same for food as you say.


3 posted on 01/15/2018 11:42:08 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

The California answer, which has already made it to Austin, is food vans where there are few tables, no servers. People wait in line cafeteria style to get their food and take it someplace else to be eaten. It all may be an illusion but I’m generally turned off by such places. My image is seedy greasy food from fly-by-night businesses but there’s no arguing that the low overhead allows for cheaper prices than in a brick-and-mortar restaurant.


4 posted on 01/15/2018 11:58:30 PM PST by OrangeHoof (Donald Trump: Doing the work American politicians just won't do.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

Exactly. Last time I paid for a movie theater ticket was in 2000... though attended couple of times for special previews by invitations to corporate or business events (not the setting I usually enjoy). I definitely prefer "home theater" experience.

5 posted on 01/16/2018 12:02:54 AM PST by CutePuppy (If you don't ask the right questions you may not get the right answers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy
Minimum-wage increase proposals are NOT about minimum wages.
It's about UNION wages (read government employees mostly) and UNION DUES.
Like "Artie" on another thread wrote. So read the following:
6 posted on 01/16/2018 12:03:14 AM PST by Yosemitest (It's SIMPLE ! ... Fight, ... or Die !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

Robots. Restaurants might stay, but restaurant jobs are going. Busboys are already nearly gone in CA.


7 posted on 01/16/2018 12:08:33 AM PST by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yaelle

Yep, it's happening.

Red Robin eliminates bus boys as restaurants combat minimum wage hikes - FBN, by Brittany De Lea, 2018 January 09

8 posted on 01/16/2018 12:31:28 AM PST by CutePuppy (If you don't ask the right questions you may not get the right answers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: OrangeHoof

When in CA, I’ve seen all kinds of “food trucks” lined up near business areas / buildings, particularly during breakfast and lunch hours. Though I’ve never bought anything from them, I wouldn’t say that the prices are “cheap”, and from what I was told, some of the trucks provide freshly made “gourmet food,” from lobster rolls to specialty burgers or steaks.

Could be that it beats “brown-bagging it” or waiting in line in cafeterias / sandwich shops / Starbucks...


9 posted on 01/16/2018 12:56:15 AM PST by CutePuppy (If you don't ask the right questions you may not get the right answers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

Provide good food, good service and do so in an efficient manner and your restaurant will succeed.


10 posted on 01/16/2018 1:02:29 AM PST by Joe Dallas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

I won’t eat where an illegal with hep C handles my food.


11 posted on 01/16/2018 1:48:20 AM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

“Government is simply the name we give to the things we choose to do together.” — Barney Fwank


12 posted on 01/16/2018 1:59:07 AM PST by jiggyboy (Ten percent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

Maybe restaurants should follow the Australian model ( or McDonalds). When you arrive at a restaurant you go to the counter and place your order, pay for it,then go find a table. Waiters will bring your food but you bus your own table. There are also no refills on beverages.

I do find that the younger generation absolutely loves to eat out. Spent 2 months with my daughter and her family and she only cooked about 4 or 5 times. Lunch was always leftovers from previous nights dining out.


13 posted on 01/16/2018 2:13:10 AM PST by heylady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

Who charges less for takeout than for eat-in?
The only way that’s been true for me is to not leave a tip for takeout, whereas I leave a tip for eat-in.


14 posted on 01/16/2018 2:16:17 AM PST by scrabblehack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: glorgau

Simpler, cut down on portions. People are too fat anyway; they don’t need to eat a lb. of pasta or a baked potato the size of a baby’s head.

I do like the idea of cutting tips - as long as workers are really making the $15/hr. Restaurants could just post a sign - “No tipping allowed”.


15 posted on 01/16/2018 3:19:26 AM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners. And to the NSA trolls, FU)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

Many chains were on last legs before this. The increase may help their demise, but the food industry has been in decline for quite some time.


16 posted on 01/16/2018 3:40:54 AM PST by joesbucks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

Large chains may be better able to weather this, economy of scale thing, than the mom-and-pops. Around here the latter’s margins run around 5%. These hikes are a killer. And NYS plans more.


17 posted on 01/16/2018 3:42:53 AM PST by mewzilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OrangeHoof
"My image is seedy greasy food from fly-by-night businesses..."

I used to think the same until Franklin BBQ (in Austin TX) opened. IIRC, Aaron Franklin was serving out out of a food truck for several years before he opened his brick and mortar location. His BBQ is some of the best, ever.

18 posted on 01/16/2018 3:54:24 AM PST by cweese (Hook 'em Horns!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Joe Dallas

Your post reminded me of a sign that I saw posted in a back road, country gas station:

Price, Quality, Service - Pick any Two.

Over time, I have found this “wisdom” applicable to many businesses, including restaurants. As distorted minimum wages are increased for unskilled labor, one of the other two factors should be negatively impacted, ...if the business can remain viable.


19 posted on 01/16/2018 4:06:08 AM PST by Susquehanna Patriot (Do Leftist/Liberals Really Believe That Dissent = Highest Form of Patriotism?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: CutePuppy

I’m miles out in the country. No Grubhub here.

Not many restaurants, either. Those that are here have staff that are often friends and family, and grateful for any wage and love their work and customers.


20 posted on 01/16/2018 4:14:44 AM PST by Alas Babylon! (Keep fighting the Left and their Fake News!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-53 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson