Bebop Waffle Shop in West Seattle closed permanently on January 1st, 2023, citing the city's new minimum wage law as the primary reason. Owner Corina Luckenbach stated that the $4 increase to $20.76 per hour, coupled with pre-existing challenges like inflation and reduced foot traffic, made it financially unsustainable to operate. The closure marks another instance of a local business succumb to economic pressures, particularly those amplified by the pandemic and evolving work patterns.
Bebop Waffle Shop closed its doors for good on Monday after a new minimum wage hike made operating costs unsustainable. Corina Luckenbach, the owner of a West Seattle waffle shop, lamented that she had no choice but to close down her business when the city’s new minimum wage law went into effect on Jan. 1, raising hourly pay to $20.76. "This was my dream.
Luckenbach revealed to the media that "the hardest thing" about closing the business is that it is ultimately "taking away a safe space for people." "The stories of like what it meant to people to come in and feel safe and to feel welcomed — I just, I didn’t know," she said tearfully. As 2025 began, nearly half the states in the U.S. saw minimum wage increases, which meant a pay hike for some 9.2 million workers, according to recent data.
An analysis by The Economic Policy Institute says 21 states were set to raise their minimum wage at the first of the year, along with 48 cities and counties that are lifting their pay floors above their respective state minimums — mostly in California, Colorado and Washington. Fox Business' Breck Dumas contributed to this report.
Minimum Wage Business Closure Inflation Seattle Restaurant Industry
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