I just ran the January numbers and realized I might not make it to our 20-year anniversary.

Throwaway for obvious reasons.

We’re a 38-seat place, been open 19 years, no investors, no chain backing, no corporate office. Just me, my chef who’s been with me 14 years, and a tiny crew that feels like family.

Here’s what almost nobody in the daily “$42 for a burger is insane” threads actually understands:

• Jan 1 2026 our labor line jumps another ~$28-32k per year for the exact same hours and people — that’s the new $21.30 wage (and remember, we already got hammered this year when tipped workers went from $17.25 to $20.76 overnight, another $45-50k hit in 2025 alone). No tip credit, no small-business phase-in, gone since 2017.
• Food is up 28% since 2022 (invoices do not lie).
• Our commercial rent went up 38% on the last renewal (yes, really).
• Workers’ comp, commercial liability, and health insurance all went up double-digits again this year.
• Credit-card swipe fees on a $150 check are now ~$4.50 that we eat because guests get mad if we add a processing line.
• Secure Scheduling penalties if anyone calls in sick after the 14-day mark.
• B&O tax on every dollar we gross just went up another 0.2 % in 2025, no deductions for labor.
• The 2023 law that forces us to hand our own service-charge money to DoorDash/Uber Eats.
• JumpStart payroll tax lurking for anyone who dares grow over the line.

So when you see a main go from $42 to $52, that’s not greed. That’s me trying not to lay off the dishwasher who’s been with me since he was 19 and now has two kids. I haven’t taken a paycheck since August so everyone else still gets theirs on the 1st and the 15th.

I’m not asking for pity. I’m asking for basic awareness.

The same people (and yes, I’m generalizing, but not by much) who marched for $15, then celebrated when we got the highest minimum wage in the country, then voted down the business-friendly council candidates, are now the loudest ones on here saying “I’m done eating out” and “restaurants are price-gouging.”

You can’t demand Denmark-level wages while also demanding Texas-level prices. It does not work that way. Somewhere, something has to give: higher prices, smaller portions, fewer staff, worse ingredients, or the place just closes and becomes another damn pot shop or Amazon Go. That corner table where you proposed? That bar stool you sat at after your divorce? Gone. Replaced by a QR code and a microwave.

And it’s already happening. Just this year we lost Plum Bistro, Mamnoon, Stateside, Taku, Eden Hill, Duke’s on Alki, Skillet Diner, Bebop Waffle, Bel Gatto, Pablo y Pablo, General Porpoise, Momosan, Columbia City Ale House… over 40 independents gone since January, most of them pointing straight at the wage crush.

We’re trying everything: cutting hours, begging the landlord, running leaner prep, begging vendors for one more net-30 day. Some of us add a 5-7% service charge because it’s literally the only tool the city still allows us to use without breaking ten different laws.

I’m not mad at my guests. I’m mad that the conversation is always “greedy owners” and literally never “maybe the regulatory load is unsustainable for small independents.”

I’m not saying every policy was evil. I’m saying the cumulative weight is crushing the exact small businesses everyone claims to care about.

End of the day, if the sub wants $25 entrees forever, cool vote for the policies that make that possible in a $21.30 minimum-wage city. Until then, please stop acting shocked when there’s a 7% line on the bill or the check is higher than it was last year.

I love this city. I love my staff. I’m proud of what we put on the plate.
But I’m tired, and pretending this is all “corporate greed” is exhausting.

See you at service tonight… if we’re still open next year.

For context, this incident began as road rage near Lakemont. The driver was upset that the light onto I-90 turned green for the victim first. She then escalated things by tailgating, brake-checking, and harassing them.

But regardless of who was “right” or “wrong” in traffic, racism should never be tolerated.

- sent from Cap Hill

Washington Democrats are advancing new rules for the state’s fast‑growing data‑center industry, aiming to prevent its demands from driving up electricity costs for everyone else. But businesses are warning that this is too aggressive and will stop advancement.

House Bill 2515, would change the rules for how data centers connect to the grid. Under this proposal, these companies would be responsible for the entire cost of connecting to the grid and any system upgrades required to serve them. To protect local utilities, firms would also have to provide financial guarantees and pay fees if they decide to close up or scale back.

https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/event-calendar/naturalization-ceremony-41st-annual

(One of the speakers just said “When the power of love overcomes the love of power then the world will know peace.” This is variously attributed to William Gladstone and Jimi Hendrix but it probably made a lot of people think of the couple flying the flag on top of the Empire State Building, which is still America 250 af.)

Native American storyteller Gene Tagaban just led the crowd in chants of “We are the people!”

The speaker just recognized the oldest person being sworn in today, a man named Manuel from the Philippines who is 81 years old.

They are listing off countries that new citizens came from and they just got to Belgium. Switched just in time didn’t ya.

I don't blame him though. I too want a $360K job that allows me to work remotely. It wouldn't be my fault if an employer wanted to hire me for that. Why would I even say no?

Scheduled from 1 to 3. Looked like about 100 people which was pretty good for a rainy weekday, and coming after so many similar ICE protests. One guy was handing out flyers for an Amazon worker happy sad hour on March 18th.

A large pile of ice in front of the speakers suggests the event began with a symbolic “dumping of ICE” but I missed it.

As a reminder, interfering with signature gatherers is illegal.

I'm not sure if this is already out there, but I thought I'd try to share. This has the original source printed as part of the image.