TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Two established local businesses in Tucson closed their doors the weekend of Sunday, Feb. 23. It’s left fans of the now shuttered establishments wondering why.
Where a welcome sign used to grace the front door for decades now spells in big letters “SOLD OUT”… marking Le Cave’s closure after almost a century of service.
To the west, Ermanos Bar on 4th Ave has suffered the same fate.
In a statement to 13 News, Le Cave said quote “Unfortunately, health issues combined with the rapid rise in food and labor costs over the last few years has created an unsustainable situation.” Another sign on the door of Le Cave’s is asking if any other owner may be able to brace their future budget and take over the location.
Ermanos bar has similar reasons for closing. To UA Professor Russell Tronstad, it’s not a surprise.
“Food costs have gone up, you know, almost 25% for food at home and food away from home has gone up even a little bit more,” Tronstad said.
Those everyday groceries when bought in bulk can be a challenge for business owners, and as of now, meat and eggs are the biggest budget drainers… a non-negotiable for bakeries and many restaurants.
“If you’re really focused on certain meat products where you don’t have the ability to substitute away from them…that’s going to have an impact,” Tronstad said.
Additionally, paying for workers has gone up as well—a big part of the eating out experience.
“A lot of the components of the food away from home are made up of labor and services, in addition to some of the inputs like the meat products,” Tronstad said.
Tronstad doesn’t expect to see this rise in costs to stop anytime soon. A lot of meats and eggs are imported from other parts of the globe, now more than ever with the avian flu ravaging American farms. Experts say any tariffs could raise those prices even more severely.
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