On January 1, 2025, Seattle’s minimum wage increased to $20.76 per hour, making it one of the highest in the nation.
This policy change has led to significant challenges for local businesses, particularly in the restaurant industry. The Bebop Waffle Shop, a cherished establishment in West Seattle, closed its doors permanently on New Year’s Eve, citing the wage hike as a primary factor.
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Owner Corina Luckenbach, who founded the café over a decade ago after relocating from New York City, expressed deep sorrow over the closure. “I’ve cried every day,” she told Fox 13 TV. Luckenbach explained that the increased labor costs, estimated at an additional $32,000 annually, rendered her business financially unsustainable. This burden compounded existing challenges such as high inflation and reduced customer traffic due to remote work trends.
While Luckenbach supports higher wages in principle, the practical implications proved overwhelming. “This is financially just not going to make sense anymore,” she lamented. The new wage law applies uniformly to all businesses, eliminating previous allowances for tips and medical benefits, thereby intensifying the financial strain on small enterprises.
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