????? Huh. Stiff the landlord and you get locked out. You STILL have to PAY for that DEAD space.
Obviously, landlord has no use for every other table in the dining room. Wouldn't it be a sweet deal if someone only had to pay for space every other 12 foot square? I'd like the name of the landlord making those leases!
Firing up the grills, ovens, keeping fridge and freezer coolers going, lights, these are sunk costs that must be paid, one customer or one hundred. I have no insight into gas and elec bills, but, certainly much higher than mine here.
Then there are enhanced cleaning processes and whatever tools or supplies in that. The more food sales, the less that each ticket shaves off a share of the overhead, 50 tables, or 25. I understand the need for price increases, even if their wholesale food costs were same as before (per serving). They don't need to post that things are tough and that they have to raise prices, it's clear.
I don't generally see any special rail card on a grocery store shelf when a price went up. It's not announced. Sale prices may or may not have something special on the card, my eyes are well-trained to spot the CLOSEOUT red and black cards at Kroger.... but Higher Prices over here? nope. never. Not at MacDonald's, either. Pizza joint? no, but they have sometimes put out a notice if, for example, tomatoes are very expensive right now from drought or flood or whatever.... sometimes a surcharge, sometimes "expect less sauce", upcharge for extra. most reputable food places will tell you if they are not using spinach currently due to e coli somewhere... but not if they are suddenly importing pricey exotic whatever... they'll just slap that on a pie, give it a name, and a premium price.
