By: Veronica Quiroga
“We ate the most recent cost increases for the last four and a half years.” says Jay Cintron, 35, manager of the prosperous and well-known Love Cafe; meaning that they tried to resist raising food retail prices to compensate for industry-wide price hikes.
Since Love Cafe first opened back in November 2009, the menu prices on almost all purchases have gradually increased over time. Almost all the items on the Cafe’s menu have gone up within a range of $0.25 -$1.00. According to Jay, the business has imposed four menu-wide price increases since 2009. But the cost of different meats, coffees and other goods have only continued to go up. Pat — who was originally paying a price of $19.99 for the chicken-breast package, is now paying an additional $3.
Every year, there are new nationwide price hikes, not only on meats, but on coffees, cheeses, fruits and milk as well. However, the Love Cafe always strove to maintain its lower prices until now. All the new changes they’ve made are justified by the higher profit margins demanded by those companies which sell food and meal-service products to the Cafe.
On September 3, 2014, Jay and Pat changed their prices across the board. Some examples include:
A grilled cheese with meat which originally cost $2.50 is now $3.00
One of the top selling items on the menu, Grilled Chicken Salad, was $5. It is now $6.
All espresso-made drinks have gone up by $0.50 due to the skyrocketing prices of various coffee products.
Most people understand. Manhattan Center students still continue to fill this small humble saloon. But there will always be people who get upset when there is a change in prices. “They just have to learn to adjust,” says Jay, while adding an undeniable fact: “Price increases were way overdue. We need money to keep the business open. If we’re not making money, how do we pay our bills, our workers, and still continue to sell food?”
Despite the unfortunate spike in food costs, The Love Cafe still offers its customers some of the best service you can ask for. To workers like Jay and Pat, it’s not just about the meals and the money to them. The Love Cafe is a “go-to” spot for kids. The staff takes time to get to know the type of stuff you like, to memorize your name and to make you feel a little closer to home than you would feel in other establishments.