A waffle shop owner in Seattle was forced to shut down her business over a new minimum wage law implemented on New Year’s Day, according to a report from the New York Post.
Bebop Waffle Shop, which was founded more than a decade ago, closed its doors over a new Seattle law that mandates hourly pay to $20.76. Corina Luckenbach told a local news outlet that she’s “cried every day” since closing the business.
Luckenbach said her business was suffering from high inflation and increased food prices over the past few years. The shop has also suffered from lower foot traffic in the city — a mixed result of people working from home and higher crime rates.
Luckenbach said that the state-mandated minimum wage increase was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“This is financially just not going to make sense anymore. Because, just for me, the increase would cost me $32,000 more a year,” the former shop owner said.
Luckenbach told the same local news outlet that, in theory, she supports people earning a higher minimum wage. However, in practice, she was unable to keep up with the wages.
Before 2025, large employers in Seattle — companies with more than 500 workers — were required to pay a minimum wage of $18.69 per hour.
Small businesses with 500 workers or fewer had to pay the same minimum wage if the company did not contribute at least $2.19 per hour toward medical benefits or if employees did not earn sufficient tips. “Sufficient tips” are considered a combined minimum compensation of $20.28.
The new minimum wage law applies to large and small businesses alike and eliminates tip or benefit workarounds. The minimum wage in Seattle is now $4 higher than Washington state’s minimum wage.
Similar minimum wage laws will go into effect in 21 states and 48 cities across the country in 2025.
