The Restaurant Labor Shortage Is Playing Out on This Baker’s Instagram | Eater Denver

"Located at 425 Violet Street in Golden, this bakery and wholesale supplier announced it will stop selling from its retail storefront on Saturdays while continuing wholesale operations. Owner Jeff Cleary, a 30-year restaurant-industry veteran, posted on Facebook and Instagram that the closure was "due to labor shortage," blaming a lack of staff and difficulty finding "competent" employees. The announcement drew sympathy from other bakers and chefs, while some commenters attributed the problem to Colorado’s marijuana industry or generational attitudes. The conversation also touched on wage pressures — noting Colorado’s tipped minimum wage was $7.18 in 2018 and set to rise to $8.98 by 2020 as the regular minimum wage reached $12 — and included a baker (@proofbread) who argued that higher wages often lead businesses to raise prices, calling labor the most expensive ingredient and supporting living wages but rejecting them as an entitlement." - Josie Sexton