$18 for a freakin’ B.L.T. sandwich? These cafes and restaurants have lost their minds

[Anonymous]

I don’t really get how fresh prepared food could cost less, tbh. I think the margins are razor thin.

Probably someone will come up with an ai or automation innovation that will change the labor math at some point, like what happened with the Automat and the McDonalds assembly method. I know Pret makes the sandwiches ahead but I don’t think that’s different enough to really dent the economics.

[Anonymous]

This is the result of a minimum wage of $13+. Some fast food and fast casual places are even paying $15+. I was in a Playa Bowls the other day, and there must have been at least 6 people working. And, while reasonably busy (it was a Saturday morning), it wasn't crazy. Think about having to pay each of those teens $14/hour. That's $84. Let's say they were selling 12 bowls an hour at $12 = $288. So net of about $200, but certainly it's not that busy all day. But then the franchise owner needs to get paid, there's rent, utilities, costs for actual ingredients and supplies, insurance. No wonder prices are going up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Joe Biden

+1. Why is he not setting price controls on things like bacon, setting limits on what businesses can charge, and how profitable they can be? Why is he allowing supply and demand capitalism to proceed unchecked by his socialist principles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the result of a minimum wage of $13+. Some fast food and fast casual places are even paying $15+. I was in a Playa Bowls the other day, and there must have been at least 6 people working. And, while reasonably busy (it was a Saturday morning), it wasn't crazy. Think about having to pay each of those teens $14/hour. That's $84. Let's say they were selling 12 bowls an hour at $12 = $288. So net of about $200, but certainly it's not that busy all day. But then the franchise owner needs to get paid, there's rent, utilities, costs for actual ingredients and supplies, insurance. No wonder prices are going up.

Exactly.

Business owners even said that if the required minimum wage went up, prices would have to go up to support those wages.

My kid works at a Panera and makes $15.25/hr. He just started over the summer so that's probably one of the lowest pays there. There was a big food truck festival in our town last weekend and DS said after 9 am, Panera only had 7 customers come in for lunch and only a handful of food delivery orders. The manager started making cuts of anyone who wanted to leave. DS stayed because he said, "why wouldn't I stay to get paid to do nothing, mom?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't go to a bar and order a drink.

$5 for a cheap Coors Light at a random dive bar in the Midwest.

For those who don’t know, a 6-pack of Coors Light bottles is around $5 retail.

Where? It’s $11 at Harris teeter. Maybe $10 on sale.

Right. Previous posters seem like they are in the 1990s.

PP said Midwest dive bar. This Midwest grocery store is selling 6 pack of domestic beer bottles for $7.50 retail. Don’t bars pay whole prices?

https://www.meijer.com/shopping/product/coors-light-lager-beer-6-pack-12-fl-oz-bottles-4-2-abv/7199030005.html

We don't live in flyover country. How is this relevant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really get how fresh prepared food could cost less, tbh. I think the margins are razor thin.

Probably someone will come up with an ai or automation innovation that will change the labor math at some point, like what happened with the Automat and the McDonalds assembly method. I know Pret makes the sandwiches ahead but I don’t think that’s different enough to really dent the economics.

You’re paying $18 for a single BLT that you make in your own kitchen with grocery store ingredients? Sounds like someone who’s never ever cooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the result of a minimum wage of $13+. Some fast food and fast casual places are even paying $15+. I was in a Playa Bowls the other day, and there must have been at least 6 people working. And, while reasonably busy (it was a Saturday morning), it wasn't crazy. Think about having to pay each of those teens $14/hour. That's $84. Let's say they were selling 12 bowls an hour at $12 = $288. So net of about $200, but certainly it's not that busy all day. But then the franchise owner needs to get paid, there's rent, utilities, costs for actual ingredients and supplies, insurance. No wonder prices are going up.

That’s fantastic for the workers but my middle class salary didn’t go up and now I can’t afford to eat out. Raising minimum wage was a bad idea, not everyone needs a livable wage, i.e. teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really get how fresh prepared food could cost less, tbh. I think the margins are razor thin.

Probably someone will come up with an ai or automation innovation that will change the labor math at some point, like what happened with the Automat and the McDonalds assembly method. I know Pret makes the sandwiches ahead but I don’t think that’s different enough to really dent the economics.

You’re paying $18 for a single BLT that you make in your own kitchen with grocery store ingredients? Sounds like someone who’s never ever cooked.

Well, why don't you factor in your labor and rent/mortgage costs, plus utilities? It's not just the ingredients you're paying for, obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Joe Biden

+1. Why is he not setting price controls on things like bacon, setting limits on what businesses can charge, and how profitable they can be? Why is he allowing supply and demand capitalism to proceed unchecked by his socialist principles?

Sounds like someone is confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really get how fresh prepared food could cost less, tbh. I think the margins are razor thin.

Probably someone will come up with an ai or automation innovation that will change the labor math at some point, like what happened with the Automat and the McDonalds assembly method. I know Pret makes the sandwiches ahead but I don’t think that’s different enough to really dent the economics.

You’re paying $18 for a single BLT that you make in your own kitchen with grocery store ingredients? Sounds like someone who’s never ever cooked.

Well, why don't you factor in your labor and rent/mortgage costs, plus utilities? It's not just the ingredients you're paying for, obviously.

That’s the most absurd argument I’ve heard. Listen, restaurant owner. People are waking up to your ridiculous prices.

[Anonymous]

I'm in California. DD and I went to dinner the other night. Not a fancy place, but also not fast food or fast casual. I had a quinoa bowl with shrimp, and a diet coke. She had one lemon drop martini and bbq shrimp - which consisted of 4 shrimp and a small loaf of french bread. Total bill: $102.00 before the tip. NEVER AGAIN.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the result of a minimum wage of $13+. Some fast food and fast casual places are even paying $15+. I was in a Playa Bowls the other day, and there must have been at least 6 people working. And, while reasonably busy (it was a Saturday morning), it wasn't crazy. Think about having to pay each of those teens $14/hour. That's $84. Let's say they were selling 12 bowls an hour at $12 = $288. So net of about $200, but certainly it's not that busy all day. But then the franchise owner needs to get paid, there's rent, utilities, costs for actual ingredients and supplies, insurance. No wonder prices are going up.

That’s fantastic for the workers but my middle class salary didn’t go up and now I can’t afford to eat out. Raising minimum wage was a bad idea, not everyone needs a livable wage, i.e. teenagers.

You don’t have teenagers preparing and serving your work day lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the result of a minimum wage of $13+. Some fast food and fast casual places are even paying $15+. I was in a Playa Bowls the other day, and there must have been at least 6 people working. And, while reasonably busy (it was a Saturday morning), it wasn't crazy. Think about having to pay each of those teens $14/hour. That's $84. Let's say they were selling 12 bowls an hour at $12 = $288. So net of about $200, but certainly it's not that busy all day. But then the franchise owner needs to get paid, there's rent, utilities, costs for actual ingredients and supplies, insurance. No wonder prices are going up.

That’s fantastic for the workers but my middle class salary didn’t go up and now I can’t afford to eat out. Raising minimum wage was a bad idea, not everyone needs a livable wage, i.e. teenagers.

You don’t have teenagers preparing and serving your work day lunch.

+1. Also, as a counterpoint to teenagers-don't-need that, many teens have to save for or work their way through college. Due to rising college costs, it's become a lot harder over time to pay your way through college (Google it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks Joe Biden

+1. Why is he not setting price controls on things like bacon, setting limits on what businesses can charge, and how profitable they can be? Why is he allowing supply and demand capitalism to proceed unchecked by his socialist principles?

Sounds like someone is confused.

I think (hope) the PP is being sarcastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really get how fresh prepared food could cost less, tbh. I think the margins are razor thin.

Probably someone will come up with an ai or automation innovation that will change the labor math at some point, like what happened with the Automat and the McDonalds assembly method. I know Pret makes the sandwiches ahead but I don’t think that’s different enough to really dent the economics.

You’re paying $18 for a single BLT that you make in your own kitchen with grocery store ingredients? Sounds like someone who’s never ever cooked.

Well, why don't you factor in your labor and rent/mortgage costs, plus utilities? It's not just the ingredients you're paying for, obviously.

That’s the most absurd argument I’ve heard. Listen, restaurant owner. People are waking up to your ridiculous prices.

Oh, please. I work in media. But the idea you are only paying for ingredients is obviously false and you are dumb as a ham sandwich if you don’t see that.