Part 3/12:
The closures aren't limited to jobs—they also affect the very foundation of many small and family-owned businesses. Many establishments have shut their doors, while others have cut back hours, banned overtime, and faced financial strain due to rising operational costs—averaging a 14.5% increase in menu prices. What used to be an $11 combo meal now costs between $18 and $22, making quick, affordable meals increasingly inaccessible to average families.