The owner of a popular West Seattle waffle shop said he had no choice but to close after the city's new minimum wage law went into effect on New Year's Day, raising his hourly wage to $20.76.
Bebop Waffle Shop, founded more than a decade ago by a former New York City resident, closed its doors Monday.
“I cried every day,” said Corinna Luckenbach, the owner of the waffle shop. he told Fox 13 TV.
Luckenbach, who founded Bebop more than a decade ago after relocating to the Emerald City from New York, said her business was already suffering from high inflation that caused food prices to soar.
Waffle shops are also having trouble operating as many people are working from home, which has reduced foot traffic in the city.
The minimum wage increase was the last straw, she said.
“This no longer makes economic sense because, for me personally, the increase is going to cost me an extra $32,000 a year,” Luckenbach told Fox 13 TV.
Luckenbach, who named the cafe after his late dachshund, said he supports workers earning a higher minimum wage in theory, but in practice he hasn't kept up with the changes. .
Previously, large Seattle employers with more than 500 employees were required to pay a minimum wage of $18.69 an hour.
Small employers with 500 or fewer workers are eligible if the company does not contribute at least $2.19 per hour in medical benefits or the employees do not earn enough tips to meet the total minimum compensation of $20.28. In that case, you had to pay $18.69 an hour.
The minimum wage for small businesses was $17.25 per hour if the minimum compensation standard was met through tips or if the employer contributed at least $2.19 per hour in medical benefits.
The new $20.76 hourly wage law is $4 more than Washington state's minimum wage requirement and applies to large and small businesses. Tips and perks credits will also be eliminated.
Luckenbach, who is gay, said the “hardest thing” about closing businesses is that “it takes away a safe space for people.”
“Those stories about what it means for people to come here and feel safe and feel welcome. I just didn't know,” she said, wiping away tears.
The Post has reached out to Luckenbach for comment.
new minimum wage law Already in force or scheduled to enter into force sometime in the new year in 21 states and 48 cities and counties.
The Economic Policy Research Institute, a think tank that studies the effects of the minimum wage, A report has been published It estimates that wages for 9.2 million workers will increase by a total of $5.7 billion.
The federal minimum wage of $7.25 has not increased in 15 years.
