More restaurants struggle to remain open with rising costs 

The rent affects everybody. Consumers don’t want to eat out because little is left after paying rent.

Most people on a tighter budget these days, can't afford to eat out so much. Also restaurant employees don't usually get great benifits or much respect:(

Greed has the whole country shutting down

I used to get takeout for around $30 to $40 for two people with a tip. I regularly pay $60 to $100 now. I eat out way less these days.

Eat at home and you know whats in your food and you save tons of money instead of dining out.

Before Covid, we ate out daily but since that time, we only eat out 1-2 times a month. It’s a minimum of $30 for 2 for crappy fast food. That’s just outrageous to me.

It’s not the lack of workers, workers can’t literally afford to work in low wage jobs.

No one wants to work slave jobs getting yelled at by customers

Food prices are through the roof, just look at groceries. The big huge companies that own all the food are all sitting back laughing selling our farmland to other countries and filling everything with chemicals and filler.

I’m not blaming restaurant owners for ridiculously high food prices because I can see how much food prices have spiked in my own supermarket. Add those costs to labor, insurance, taxes, rent and utilities and they are forced to price themselves clear out of business. I stopped going to the local diner for breakfast when 3 egg omelettes with coffee and toast went up to 16.75. I started cooking at home for less than half that cost And apparently I wasn’t the only one because after a year of high prices the diner that was there for 45 years went out of business. It’s sad.

Even fast food we usually can afford , is rising and getting more expensive. A sandwich from subway costs $16 .

Between rude employees and food that looks nothing like the advertisement, and outrageous prices and false entitlement for excessive tipping for horrible service. I have decided to keep my money in my pocket since 2021

Wages suck. Food is expensive. Its a lose lose situation. Like fast food use to be affordable now its too expensive and grocery shopping is cheaper now. Use to be the opposite.

that's because there are too many greedy corporate chain restaurants now, their prices are too expensive, the quality of the food is poor and you don't get much for your money, going out to eat at a restaurant is a waste of money these days, you are better off buying food at the grocery store and eating at home

High prices are affecting the ppl in different ways

Employees don't get benefits, don't get health insurance, don't get raises or bonuses (even on Holidays), don't get treated with respect or dignity, and are paid absolute bare minimum wage while being yelled at by both customers and management all day, meanwhile management completely neglects any aspect of customer service or keeping up with inventory properly. That's the real reason these greedy companies are sinking.

As a small business owner (auto repair) myself it’s crazy how much the cost of doing business has went up in just a few years. The rent for my business went up 1,000 a month, utilities doubled, supplies went up and the worst is parts went way up. I do alot of engine and transmission replacements and because of the shortages you couldn’t buy new engines or transmissions new anywhere so when u call a used engine supplier/junkyard they knew this so a used engine that was 1800 bucks before Covid was 4400 bucks which was hilarious because brand new at the dealer was the same price but they didn’t have them. I lost out on many many engine and transmission jobs because of this price gouging people bought new cars rather then fixing and I don’t blame them. It’s been a rough time.

Also, many restaurants will blame costs when in fact they're closing because the food/service is trash.

It's the same in many states. Rising costs of rents, utilities and food are hitting everyone, then with paying higher salaries restaurants have to charge way too much for meals. People can't afford to eat out as much as they used to. I miss favorite stores and eateries that have closed, but going smaller is a good idea. In my area there are only a few very small food trucks serving Mexican food. If restaurants opened the larger food trucks I would start trying them.

With restaurant menu prices increasing 30-40% the last couple of years, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Eating out, even at a fast food joint, is a luxury now.

You know I won't be eating out as much anymore!

Rent is taking all your business

There is no labor shortage.

It's too expensive to provide housing, utility, meals and transportation for migrant workers

So they are going to just ignore that the *expectation of tips and tipping culture* is out of control? Okay with me. I'll keep sitting here buying bulk from Costco, making tons of soups, chilis and homemade bread while restaurant owners continue to 'try and figure it out'.

The truth is that a lot of restaurants are not hiring. I used to work at a very popular local Hawaiian restaurant. A lot of people drop off their applications but the restaurant It's not making enough money to cover the labor. At the end, we're always shorts on labor. Hawaii has enough workers who want to work.

Rent is too high landlords profit while everyone else struggles

Maybe our entire economy shouldn’t be based on eating out. During COVID there were more stories about the effect on restaurants and bars than anyone’s health. We don’t manufacture anything or produce anymore. So all eggs are in the let’s get fat economy.

Groceries are the 1/4 of the cost of eating out and even purchasing $250 worth of groceries it still only halfway fills my fridge and pantry

Miss the days when there was customer service

And with your customers paying your server salaries via tips...and you still can't make it?

I am 4500 miles away from Hawaii, but I can say the same is happening in the midwestern USA. I feel bad for the people affected by closures, but going forward, overpriced, low quality food is not gonna keep a place in business. Ruby Tuesday has shut down all of their locations here because it just isn't good or competitive. Furthermore, any tourists to Hawaii shouldn't be going to a shitty chain restaurant. They should be trying to eat at locally owned spots where they will find what's usually better quality food that they may not find at home for a similar price point. Food trucks may be the way forward, too. Here where I am, the Mexicans are leading the way opening food trucks and staying open no matter the weather and they seem to be doing okay. A lot of them will park their food truck in the parking lot of a small business owned by their friends or family after hours. If you go through areas with more Hispanic business, chances are once that tire shop or salon closes, there's a taco truck pulling up to do business

Eating out is a luxury in today’s society. Even fast food is a luxury.

Thank goodness my mother taught me how to cook and prepare meals at a very young age 👊🙏

You voted for this

It’s the rising cost of rent and food forcing people wanting to get paid more, hence shortage of workers for restaurants

Probably more to do with market dynamics. Chipotle and 5 Guys seem to be doing just fine.

“Lack of laborers.” Yeah, this is something businesses are often complaining about. Who wants to work in the service industry, a tough industry that doesn’t pay a living wage? An industry where customers belittle and abuse you. An industry where managers use you, and when no longer needed, get rid of you.

If people can't afford $15 for a Happy Meal at McDonalds then why the hell would people go to a restaurant

Rents for some folks has risen more than 100%. Do you really expect them to have spare change to eat out?

Eating fast food is like smoking.

That's great but if I'm ordering from a food truck, I'm expecting to get food for a cheaper price because they're not paying thousands and thousands a month on rent and utilities. If they want to charge as much as. Traditional restaurant, I'll just have a bowl of soup at home.

They've destroyed so much since 2020 its so sad

It's not a labor shortage, it's a shortage of decent paying jobs. People want reliable hours to pay their bills.

Its hilarious they keep talking about restaurants closing because of staffing and costs. Yet there's no mention of the quality of the food. Rick Nakashima should eat at least once at one of his Ruby Tuesday's and then understand why there are no patrons.

Families are cooking at home now

What do they expect the CEO hoarding millions and widening the wealth gap and no thought where it comes from the hours lousy they want people to be available 4 hrs each day and on standby have to put up with disrespectful management and patrons and no benefits.

I don’t eat out because they’ve raised the prices to astronomical levels and employees think they’re supposed to get tips.

$30 for burger at teddy's outrageous

Price of food is crazy! 2 meals for over $30 and it ain’t even good. I’ll stay home

Its sad. Took my family out for after xmas dinner. $167.00 before tip. My sandwich cost $17.00. A fish an chips dinner is double what it used to be an was all breading. Higher price, lower quality 😢.

Ban Foreign Aid

duh! When you vote blue!

If you can’t afford to pay your workers a decent wage you can’t afford to be in business! These companies make millions of dollars off of us & they can’t afford to pay the workers a decent wage without charging more please this is just per greed. Pay your employees like you should’ve the entire time & quit your complaining & if you think we are going to pay more because you have choose not to do the right thing your nuts so you better be prepared to shut your doors or shut your mouth!

The pandemic was a huge wake up call for a lot of people. From making better financial decisions, eating better, and rethinking horrible jobs with no future. So many promote shitty jobs that they themselves would not want to do. If your business can’t pay good wages, you are the only one profiting from it. 🥳

Texas just needs to fly migrants to Hawaii to fill these jobs

My wife and i hardly ever eat out anymore! Maybe once a month at a diner that the prices have doubled since covid and the hours of operation are half of what they used to be! The quality is still very good but we just cant afford it anymore on a fixed income!! Between rental increases and food prices its just not feasable to go out as much anymore!! Sad to have it this way in our final years on this planet!!

Dining solely from roach coaches increases your chances of food poisoning. One thing I totally don't get in this report are restaurant owners saying they cannot hire enough people and at the same time the reporter mentions an increase in the minimum wage is also a problem. If restaurants can't find workers at the current minimum wage, how in the heck are they going to find workers if wages are decreased??? This makes no sense. Are people going to work for free?

There is not a labor shortage. There is a shortage of people willing to work for low pay, shitty benefits and abusive treatment by bosses and customers. People are waking up and understanding their worth and will not go back to those type of working conditions

That’s crazy, I just got let go of my job because business was slow.

How many of us can really keep all these eateries open with business? It already isn't healthy to eat out regularly so there's that too.

LABOR SHORTAGE ??????????????????????????????????

Corporations are buying the property. Theyll price you out and then install their own franchises.

And yet the politicians dont do anything about it…

This year will see lots of closings every where......

greedy owners wanting more than 5 cents an hour after spending a million dollars

Ruby Tuesdays as a whole has been on steep downwards decline for the past 15 years, the last 3 in my area all packed up in 2011 so its more surprising they are even around as a company. The food is lousy and is more on par with county jail food than typical chain restaurant food. I would say Applebees food is of higher quality than Ruby Tuesdays, and that stuff is simply wretched. Looking at those god awful boiled burgers on a the poverty spec Kaiser roll tells me all I need to know why nobody wants to work there.

Ruby Tuesday vs a food truck. 100% food truck.

Oh noes, the poor man had to close 3 of his restaurants? Oh noes, so he will be a little less rich? That's just terrible my heart definately cries for him.

I used to go out to a restaurant once every 1-2 weeks but prices are so high now ON TOP of being expected to 20% tip still even though in my state servers make way over the federal tipped minimum. Now it's maybe 4 times a year to a sit down restaurant. Sorry but to get me back in these prices need to be put under control. Let me order on a kiosk and call my number and I'll get my own food.

Honestly though.., if a restaurant pays them less then WE pick up the tab. Most of those workers have usually been paid so little that they qualify for Medicaid and food stamps.. paid for by us. They are profiting off of us. There has to be an end to this. If a business can’t pay full time workers enough to keep them off assistance then what good are they to the community in the long run? Why should tax payers pay their bills for them? And big restaurant chains CAN afford to pay them, but they have way to many higher up corporate bonuses to pay do they pay them off instead of just making a sustainable business that doesn’t mooch off of our tax money.

In Knoxville Tennessee people eat mostly local

We stopped eating out. It’s WAY too expensive now.

I live in California and I can't save money if I eat out so I don't anymore. Cooking at home is cheaper and healthier.

Ok.

first of all, ruby Tuesday's sucks

Let's go Brandon!

People want to work, just not for nothing!

The work force are there but you got to pay at least $40 / hour with healthcare and pensions, vacations and upward mobility

Costs in everytihng ate never gonna go back down to how is was. Its just gona keep going up slowly but indeed will keep going up.... But incomes still remain the same. How is not anyone putting 2 and 2 together here. Its doesnt add up.

What makes it kinda worse and prices go UP....took place on Jan 1......the minumum wage. Even my boss is critical of me working WAY PAST my 8hrs, now....I only work at least 5 to 6hrs....

Serves them right. Restaurant are raising their prices, the food quantity is shrinking and the taste has degraded due to using lower quality ingredients and the cooks are inexperienced. I prefer buying my own groceries and eating at home.

Bidenomics is working as intended.

Rent prices need to decrease in my opinion it should solve the problem with everything that’s where most people income goes too

Translation: We want slave wage workers.

Crack down on the dang landowners! They are just sitting on their butts all day living off of everyone else's backs. They are getting free lunches, breakfasts and dinners! Hawaii's government needs to be backing its constituents not their bribers.

another bidenomics success story!!

I used to enjoy going for a burger but now I can cook it just as well on the grill outside.

Soon, every restaurant will literally be just a vending machine, just like in Holland

Sounds those greedy land lords raising rent by 50x in 2 months is not good huh

Restaurant workers are incredibly hardworking. Whatever your view is on minimum wage, no one should be working full-time on an essential job (feeding the people) and not be able to afford shit.

My uncle and my step aunt in law don’t have a problem with raising costs typically. My uncle shops around for the best deals and never goes to the grocery store in the same plaza due to their prices not always being the cheapest. Bananas are only 19cents a lb at Trader Joe’s and bananas is on the drink/dessert menu. One of the grocery stores that my uncle buys from a lot has wholesale prices especially for restaurants so he saves a lot. No raised prices since opening in 2022 and very few items went down in price. On separate note, I can still get footlong sandwiches that are under $5 pre tax and not from subway.

There’s so many restaurants here(I live in Ohio) that I’m amazed more aren’t closing. I work in the field and the owners of the place I work own 6 different restaurants all of which are successful and well staffed. It’s the first decent ownership group I’ve worked for out of the 5 places I’ve been in my career. I also think a lack of originality is to blame on the part of many restaurants. Unless you can offer something someone else can’t, be that quality, offerings, ambiance or simply better service people will consider going elsewhere.

Lots of restaurants closed because of the prices,When inflation hits America gas went up everything went up so not a lot of people can afford to eat out all the time anymore

They too cheap to hire the right amount of people, for example full staffing will need eight workers, but the restaurants only will staff 3 to 4 workers to save money, but the work find out they have put out the work of two workers sometime put out for three workers if someone call in sick that is why the newer generation don't like to work certain job where you get cheap pay and they expect you to work two time harder, that like slavery. It just like our Medical Service they are under staff and overworked think of profits instead of servicing the people who pay big money for big health insurance but at the end of the day you don't get the service need, like waiting month before you can see a doctor or dentist. Then when you get to see one you spend all your day at the clinic just for the doctor to see you for 15 min. 👀💔

Its nuts. I went to eat lunch at a restaurant that would have normally been packed before Covid. I was the only patron there. It looked like they had several servers that had nothing to do. My meal cost $20, more than I usually paid in the past, yet im sure the restaurant and the employees still suffered because there are simply no customers there anymore because they cant afford to pay that much for lunch. Its a vicious cycle.

Bidenomics at work.

Can't find staff, says pay is keeping up, mentions minimum wage as a problem. Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

The real fact is that rents are too high for some businesses. The labor shortage is due to the transient worker population that went home during covid. They have not returned and probably wont. The boom days are over, businesses either adjust, pivot or go home. The higher cost of everything is taking its toll. Prices are not going to come down anytime soon... if ever

Wife and I are basically debt free. Home and cars paid for and we pay off the CC bill monthly. We use to eat out 2-3x per week. The value is not there any longer. When did a sirloin steak at Longhorn Steakhouse start costing $28? Or a Jersey Mikes large Italian with chips and a drink start running $19? Go to Olive Garden and drop $60 for two? No thanks. We eat out one time per week and that is after we go to the movies on Sat or Sunday. Plus we are saving about $500 per month from not eating out.