Beloved Seattle cafe ‘crushed’ by ever-growing costs (Lake Forest Park: house, neighborhood)

[CrazyDonkey]

Beloved Seattle cafe 'crushed' by ever-growing costs

At first this looks like just another "rising minimum wage hurts business" story:

The city’s minimum wage law, which requires employers with 500 or fewer employees to pay at least $11 an hour by Jan. 1, was hurting Plum’s bottom line, she says.

Except the real factors pointed to have little to do with a higher minimum wage:

"Never mind the huge labor shortage for kitchen staff in this city.”

Plum says it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified candidates — or any candidates at all — to work in the food service industry. The people moving to Seattle and King County are all doing so to work in the tech industry, she says.

The real problem is a labor shortage, despite the higher minimum wage:

“People are working in tech,” Plum said. “You don’t have people moving into [Seattle] to work in a kitchen … It doesn’t pay the most, although the wages are going up.”

Plum says when she places ads for the cook, she now gets zero response.

This doesn't mean that a higher minimum wage isn't a factor in rising costs, but it is likely not the most important one, that being that service businesses are having difficulty attracting quality workers even at higher than minimum wages. Even without the higher minimum wage, Seattle businesses would have faced higher labor costs anyway, due to rapidly rising living costs that are driving "workers" out of the city.

[hurricane harry]

Walked by there Saturday and saw this. Kind of sad the place was always busy. 14 carrot will pick up some business.

[homesinseattle]

Very sad but it also seems like some of this is determined by location, parking and accessibility. My Phinney Ridge coffee shop (Makeda) is very busy all the time and seems to find employees.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

Very sad but it also seems like some of this is determined by location, parking and accessibility. My Phinney Ridge coffee shop (Makeda) is very busy all the time and seems to find employees.

This is what I was thinking. Eastlake isn't the best location, and I honestly question how "beloved" the place was. It may have had a few devoted regulars, but there are plenty of neighborhood hangouts that have had a major following over decades.

[Sockeye66]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

This is what I was thinking. Eastlake isn't the best location, and I honestly question how "beloved" the place was. It may have had a few devoted regulars, but there are plenty of neighborhood hangouts that have had a major following over decades.

Reminds me of a 2010 PI story telling of Ballard's Totem House fish and chips place closing after 62 years due to the bad economy. Truth was the placed was overpriced, poor quality, and only survived as long as it did being so close to the Locks.

[leastprime]

The coffee shop by son's house, has $3 coffee. That's drip, pour over. He bought.
I now have a stash of coffee and filters at his house.

[Gardyloo]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

...I honestly question how "beloved" the place was. It may have had a few devoted regulars, but there are plenty of neighborhood hangouts that have had a major following over decades.

At one time I was something of a "regular" at Louisa's and it wasn't all that beloved to me. And from what I could see, any price increases caused by increased minimum wages would have easily been absorbed by typical Louisa's patrons. Easily. The Honey Bear, she wasn't.

I was far, far sadder to see Hiroshi's across the street leave; one of the best Japanese places in town. (He's up on Beacon Hill now, I'll be making a pilgrimage soon.)

Originally Posted by Sockeye66

Reminds me of a 2010 PI story telling of Ballard's Totem House fish and chips place closing after 62 years due to the bad economy. Truth was the placed was overpriced, poor quality, and only survived as long as it did being so close to the Locks.

Amen to that. Salt poisoning was a side dish.

[mhays25]

I'm surprised that places aren't finding workers. Aren't zillions of people struggling to pay Seattle rents, and needing a second job?

I cooked decades ago, and have always thought that if I was struggling I could do a couple nights a week in a restaurant. They need people like that.

I also wonder if this is a pervasive problem, or more about some places not being good at finding/retaining people.

[ShiverMeTimber]

Can't find anybody to work for peanuts so it closes down...

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Gardyloo

At one time I was something of a "regular" at Louisa's and it wasn't all that beloved to me. And from what I could see, any price increases caused by increased minimum wages would have easily been absorbed by typical Louisa's patrons. Easily. The Honey Bear, she wasn't.
.

Ah, another Honey Bear fan! Now that place was the essence of beloved! Too bad they're so lackluster in their Lake Forest Park location. I haven't been, but the reviews are terrible. Owner is completely indifferent to the bad service. If he goes out of business blaming "increased minimum wage", everyone will know it was due to the appalling service. I've seen places with bad service and bad fare close due to "increased minimum wage", but the public isn't fooled. It's a convenient excuse few people buy.