Latest news with #Delice&Sarrasin
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'This might be the thing that breaks us': NYC businesses are furious with new law that hurts their bottom line
When New York City announced plans to move forward with congestion pricing in early 2025, commuters weren't happy. The purpose of congestion pricing is to pump more revenue into the city and alleviate traffic by discouraging visitors to enter by car. However, it's not just people entering NYC who are unhappy with congestion pricing. The policy is hurting local businesses, too. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) NYC restaurant owner Christophe Caron of Delice & Sarrasin fame says running his restaurant has become more expensive since congestion pricing started in January. And the problem has gotten so bad that he's not sure his restaurant will be able to hang on. "We've survived a lot, but this might be the thing that breaks us," Caron shared with Fox 5 New York News. The restaurant industry as a whole has taken a bit of a beating in the past five years. In 2020, stay-at-home orders hurt many NYC-based restaurants that rely on steady foot traffic to offset the high cost of rent. Once that situation eased, inflation started soaring, hurting restaurants' profits. And it's been a problem ever since. On a national scale, nearly 80% of restaurants reported rising food costs in 2024, according to Restaurant365's 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry Report. Labor costs also rose for 90% of restaurants. The National Restaurant Association also reports that inflation is straining restaurants, and that between February 2020 and June 2024, food costs for the average restaurant rose 29% while labor costs rose 31%. But that's not all. Expenses like rent, supplies and credit card processing fees have also risen, straining restaurants even more. Throw in congestion pricing, and NYC restaurants are truly having a tough go. Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, says many restaurants are now looking at not just higher costs, but fewer customers. 'While some restaurants have unfortunately reported a drop in business due to congestion pricing, many have also told us that their vendors have raised prices or added congestion-related fees to their bills — making it even more expensive to operate a small business in Manhattan,' Rigie shared with AMNY. Caron has seen his costs rise substantially since congestion pricing was implemented early in the year. Now, some of his suppliers have started adding a $10 delivery fee per order to cover the $9 congestion price toll they're being hit with. "The cost of food has already gone up," said Caron. "Now they're making it harder to even get it to the kitchen." Read more: This hedge fund legend warns US stock market will crash a stunning 80% — claims 'Armageddon' is coming. Don't believe him? He earned 4,144% during COVID. Here's 3 ways to protect yourself The purpose of congestion pricing in NYC is to reduce traffic as well as air pollution and emissions. Congestion pricing was also implemented to raise revenue for public transit improvements, but critics of the program are quick to point out that it's just another money grab for NYC. According to more than 700,000 vehicles drive into Manhattan every day. Now, drivers have to pay an extra $9 to enter Manhattan's Congestion Relief Zone between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily. Congestion pricing also applies on weekends between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., which means it's not just daily commuters who are looking at higher costs. Visitors from surrounding suburbs are also going to be charged a premium to enter the city by car on weekends. Daily commuters may have no choice but to pay congestion tolls since they have to get to work. But if visitors from nearby areas decide they're not willing to pay the extra money, this means a lot of local businesses, including restaurants, could see a serious decline in weekend foot traffic. That's a hit that many restaurants can't afford. To be clear, it's not that congestion pricing just goes away outside of the aforementioned hours. Rather, the $9 toll decreases to $2.25. But all told, people looking to drive into NYC have few options for avoiding congesting pricing. Of course, part of the purpose of congestion pricing is to encourage people to access NYC by public transportation. But that can be prohibitively expensive in its own right. A roundtrip ticket to NYC from nearby New Jersey can cost upward of $34 for one adult. This means a couple is looking at spending more than $70 on public transportation for a date night in Manhattan, making congestion pricing the more economical option — 'economical' being a relative term. Taxis, app-based for-hire vehicles and sightseeing buses are also subject to congestion pricing. These costs, as they get passed along to customers, are likely to drive consumers away. All told, local businesses in NYC could see a drop in visitors as more and more people say no to congestion pricing. So while the extra revenue might help the city, it could be just the thing that shutters more local businesses and drives costs up even more for residents. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Congestion pricing takes a toll on local restaurants
NEW YORK (PIX11) — A few months into congestion pricing, some local restaurants say they're feeling the pinch. At Delice & Sarrasin in the West Village, business is down significantly. The owner says he's not sure how much longer the restaurant can afford to stay open. More Local News Christophe Caron and his parents opened the eatery 12 years ago after moving to New York from France. 'We wanted to do something where everyone feels comfortable. We try to sell high-quality food in an environment that is between low-key and not.' Business boomed- until the pandemic. Caron says it's been hard enough to rebound, but in January, business nosedived. 'In 2025, we were surprised to say, 'Where are the people?'' Caron believes the MTA's congestion pricing plan, which tolls drivers south of 60th Street, has only further hurt businesses. 'Something happened in January, and we're now in April, and things are not picking up when they should be.' 'Winter used to be high season for us compared to what people think. But winter 2025 has seen a huge decline in traffic.' To make matters worse, some of the restaurant's suppliers have started adding a $10 surcharge per delivery. 'Those fees are notable because even if it's small in the restaurant industry, 1 plus 1 is a lot.' Overall, Caron estimates business is down 20-30 percent since the same period last year. He hopes the MTA will consider an exception to tolls for suppliers who are delivering essential goods. 'I understand they need funds, we all need to move around, and subway and transit, but how can they not impact small businesses, which make New York alive?' More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State The MTA says, according to Open Table, online reservations in the city were up more than 7 percent in January compared to the same month last year. Up more than 3 percent in February and more than 7 percent in March. But Caron says those numbers are for the entire city and not specific to the congestion zone. Regardless, he says, if business doesn't pick up for his restaurant soon, this could be the end of the road for his family business. 'It's 12 years we don't want to stop what we do, that's for sure. We love to cook and serve, and not ready to stop.' We also asked the MTA if it would consider any more exemptions for the congestion zone. It said there are already four exemption categories in place, but suppliers are not one of them. The MTA adds that so far, congestion pricing has led to fewer vehicles in the zone and traffic moving faster. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
West Village restaurant blames congestion pricing for rising costs, falling traffic
The Brief A restaurant in the West Village says congestion pricing is driving up supplier delivery fees, with some vendors adding $10 surcharges to offset the $9 toll for entering Manhattan below 60th Street. Owner Christophe Caron warns the restaurant may not survive, citing thinner profit margins, fewer customers, and a post-pandemic recovery that hasn't returned to pre-COVID levels. The MTA has defended the tolling program using OpenTable data showing a rise in Manhattan reservations, but critics argue the data doesn't reflect conditions specifically inside the congestion zone. New York City's congestion pricing plan is here, and while it has received applause from many New Yorkers, some small business owners say it's already hurting their bottom line. What we know Delice & Sarrasin, a plant-based French restaurant on West Houston Street, is known for its vegan takes on classic French dishes like ratatouille and poulet basquaise. But owner Christophe Caron says running the restaurant has become significantly more expensive in recent months — and he blames congestion pricing. Since January, drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours are charged a $9 congestion toll. As a result, Caron says some of his suppliers have started tacking on a $10 delivery fee per order to cover the added cost — a price hike that's now being passed down to his restaurant. "In general at least a good 10 to 50 percent, depending on the ingredients" said Caron, who notes it's sometimes cheaper to shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's than to rely on suppliers. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Caron says the restaurant served about 80 customers each night. Now, it's often closer to 40. And as foot traffic and regular business decrease, fixed costs like rent, labor, and ingredients continue to climb. RELATED: Transportation Secretary rides NYC subway, calls conditions unsafe as federal funding hangs in the balance The NYC Hospitality Alliance tells FOX 5 that Caron is far from alone. In a statement, the group said: "Some restaurants are seeing fewer customers since congestion pricing began—but even more say vendors are raising prices or adding fees. It's getting harder to stay open." The other side In response to these concerns, the MTA pointed to OpenTable data showing that overall seated diner reservations in New York City are actually up in 2025 compared to the same time last year. According to the data: In January 2025, reservations were up 7% over January 2024. In February, they were up 3% year over year. In March, that increase climbed again to 7%. But the OpenTable figures reflect the entire city — not specifically activity within the congestion zone, which covers Manhattan below 60th Street. It's unclear whether the restaurants inside that zone are seeing the same benefit, or whether gains uptown or in high-traffic tourist zones like Midtown are masking losses in smaller, local neighborhoods like the West Village. The OpenTable data also doesn't account for whether diners are spending more or less per visit, how many restaurants have closed or downsized, or whether delivery/takeout traffic has shifted due to the new tolls. What's next The NYC Hospitality Alliance is calling for an immediate exemption from congestion pricing for all vehicles delivering essential goods to bars and restaurants — including produce, dry goods, and perishable ingredients. "The cost of food has already gone up," said Caron. "Now they're making it harder to even get it to the kitchen." The MTA has not indicated any plans to revise or expand exemptions in the current congestion pricing structure, but small business owners and advocacy groups say they plan to keep up the pressure. For now, Caron says Delice & Sarrasin is staying open — but the future is far from guaranteed. "We've survived a lot, but this might be the thing that breaks us." This story will be updated as more data becomes available or if the MTA responds with further policy adjustments.
