Small Business Costs: Tappahannock Cafe Owner Reports Rising Prices

Jeans Owens, owner of Java Jacks in Tappahannock, Virginia, says the cost of operating her cafe has risen sharply since 2022. Coffee prices have increased by more than 30% over that period. Owens notes that the price of to-go boxes has nearly tripled, rising from 12 cents to nearly 30 cents. The combined cost of cups, lids, and straws has jumped from roughly 3 cents to more than 20 cents.

The surge in utility bills has added further pressure. Owens states her monthly electricity payment has climbed from a typical range of $450 to $500 to over $1,000. To manage these expenses, she purchases milk and juice from a local Walmart store and sources fresh fruit from a nearby grocery store. She also compares prices among three different suppliers to secure the lowest costs for her inventory.

Customer behavior has shifted as well. Owens observes that more senior patrons are splitting orders to reduce individual costs. She notes that tipping patterns fluctuate with gas prices, dropping when fuel costs rise and recovering when they fall. Despite these challenges, the cafe has maintained some menu items at a $10 price point.

Staffing remains the primary operational hurdle for Owens. She operates a second coffee location in Warsaw and has faced shortages at both sites for months. Rents in the area, where the median income is approximately $50,000 annually, have increased. Owens has helped employees find housing, occasionally placing them in motels. Five of her current employees rely on a carpool arranged by the business to commute to work.

Owens, who took over the business eight years ago with her husband, says she has taken on kitchen shifts to cover for missing staff. She plans to run for the non-partisan town council in Tappahannock, citing local housing and transportation issues. The town is located in the eastern part of Virginia's 1st Congressional District, where a tight race is underway between Republican incumbent Rob Wittman and Democrat Shannon Taylor.

Jameka Campbell, an office manager at the Menokin historical site in Richmond County, also tracks the economic impact on her household. She works two jobs, including as community director for the nonprofit Just Harvest Va. Campbell uses a strategic couponing approach at a local Walgreens store. She recently purchased household items for $60.04, saving $27.71 through rewards and promotions. She says she evaluates candidates based on their personal property ownership and residential locations.

Campbell plans to make her voting decision closer to election day. She describes her current financial status as being in between rich and poor, noting that her economic position could change rapidly. She cites the history of the enslaved people who farmed the Menokin land as a source of motivation during periods of financial strain.