Rising minimum wage sparks worry for Virginia Beach restaurant owner

Table of Contents

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — On New Year’s Day, the minimum wage increased for the fourth time in the past five years, and while this means some workers will get paid more per hour, it may cause problems for restaurants in our area.

Virginians React Ahead of Minimum Wage Increase

Debbie-Lou Hague, president of the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association and manager of Ocean Eddies on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, says restaurants may have a hard time keeping up with the gradual minimum wage increase year after year.

“These little increases are always kind of a pain because you’re making sure everything’s right in your payroll,” Hauge said. “We’re paying much more than we’ve ever paid — this is serious. You have that, and then you have the rent costs and the payroll costs. It’s hard, and there’s a lot of restaurants that have gone out of business this year, actually.”

Local Residents React to Minimum Wage Increase

When combining the new minimum wage with other factors such as rising inflation and food costs, the result could mean higher meal prices for customers.

“We also have higher food costs with higher rent costs, and now we have the higher meals tax in Virginia Beach,” Hague said, “so yeah, it’s concerning. We’re all trying to do our best and have the best service and the best food for the least price. But you know, you can’t do that forever. So it has to go back to the customer.”

Despite the potential troubles ahead, Hauge emphasized the importance of the dining out experience for customers and workers alike.

“Being around the table with your friends and family at a restaurant, being served by a great server who can give you lots of great ideas of what to do in the Oceanfront area or the Town Center area, or wherever, is a great experience,” Hague said, “and the more we talk at those tables with our families and friends, and also the workers at these restaurants, the more we learn and experience. So don’t not go out to eat. Enjoy it.”

Hague went on to say she hopes upcoming events like Restaurant Week, scheduled Jan. 19-25, will help revitalize the restaurant industry for the year ahead.