PLUM, Pa. — It’s no secret that restaurants have struggled throughout the pandemic.
Lulelo’s pizza shop in Plum is no exception. At first, they had to close down for staffing issues, but now, the problem is the increase prices for their supplies and ingredients.
The restaurant owner, Payton McCune, told Channel 11, it now costs her 2-3 times more to make a large pizza. In order to keep up with rising costs, she has to increase her own prices.
“When you’re ordering 500 pounds of cheese a week, and you see a 50% increase per pound, it’s really hard. I didn’t realize how much it adds up,” McCune said.
She posted on her restaurant’s Facebook page that in order to make a profit, or in some cases, break even, she has to raise her prices.
“If you’re going to the grocery store, you can see that prices are rising. We aren’t lying about it,” she said.
She added a photo to her post, showing the price differences between this year and last year for essential items that she needs, like fryer oil, butter, and foil.
McCune says she will be paying nearly $12,500 more this year.
“If things keep going up the way they do, I really might have to say things are going to be at market price, or they have to be expensive for the next six months,” she added.
It’s a similar story throughout the city.
In Oakland, Big Burrito closed their Mad Mex location for the winter months, and dispersed their employees to different locations because of staffing shortages.
With low staffing numbers, and higher prices for supplies, McCune’s hoping customers remember small businesses the next time they go out to eat.
“If you see there’s a small Italian restaurant versus going to one of the Italian chain restaurants, try your best to go there. Once a month, every two months, whatever you can do.”
Lulelo’s is back open six days a week thanks to a few new hires.
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