As a restaurant owner, I completely identify with these owners in big cities that are having to adjust to the “progressive” answer to paying staff. Most Americans have never been to Europe where there is no tipping because the cost of service is included in the tab. Meals are very expensive and it doesn’t matter if the service sucks.
My restaurant is in a small town in the southwest where these draconian progressive measures are yet to take effect, but I rue the day they do. Not only will staff make less money, it will be twice as hard to get a fledgling restaurant off the ground. And far fewer entrepreneurs will try.
I helped a friend of mine who ran a small restaurant.....I loved serving the customers that I soon got to know well. Tips were sufficient to more than cover the minimum rate at that time.....
I am hearing from other servers writing about this that they are making less money now they are on hourly wages and no tips.