Restaurant owners still dealing with staff shortages now face new challenge: inflation

ORLANDO, Fla. — Central Florida restaurants already dealing with staff shortages because of the pandemic are now having to deal with another headache, rising inflation.

According to experts with the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality, on average, prices are up about 7%.

Restaurant owners now say if they don’t raise their prices, skyrocketing costs of food and supplies could shut them down.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Read: How local police officers are using Brazilian jiu-jitsu to deescalate violent situations

Andrea Eliscu said after two years of avoiding crowds, returning to dining out came with a bit of sticker shock.

“You go, ‘oh my goodness, $17 for a salad?’ Then you start to think, ‘can I even go out to lunch?’ Because that’s a big hit,”  Eliscu said.

Steve Gunter, owner of The Tap Room at Dubsdread, said raising prices is a real concern for many restaurants.

Read: AdventHealth’s site plan for former Holy Land Experience takes next step forward

“As an owner, the last thing you want to do is seem like you’re raising prices capriciously,” Gunter said.

He said in 30 years, the daily changes in the cost of doing business are the worst he has seen.

“Even though our cost went up at once, seemingly overnight, we don’t want to do that all at once, because we’re all afraid of scaring off our customers,” he said.

Read: Here’s when the I-4 express lanes could open

Gunter said most patrons understand the challenges businesses are facing, and things like hospitality and warm atmosphere can make up for a few more dollars on the menu.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2022 Cox Media Group