SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington residents are facing the highest dine-in prices in the nation, with restaurant prices nearly 14% above the national average.
Emilie Cameron, President and CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, has been working tirelessly to promote downtown Spokane.
Cameron said, “Really working with our restaurants and our businesses in amplifying promotions, talking about the specials, the new menu items, really, featuring the stories behind the plates.”
Cameron explained the need for restaurants to increase menu prices, stating, “They’ve had to increase menu prices in order to keep up with costs as they’ve been escalating over the last few years.”
Despite the rising costs, Cameron is committed to keeping Spokane eateries busy.
She noted the personal sacrifices made by restaurant owners, saying, “They have leveraged a tremendous amount of personal, whether it be mortgaging their homes or extending personal guarantees for lines of credit to be able to continue operations.”
The Washington Policy Center attributes the high prices to increasing ingredient costs and legislation that raises the business and occupation tax rate.
Anthony Anton, President and CEO of the Hospitality Association, commented on the situation, “I do think it’s a statement on how expensive all our public policy has made Washington and all these, kind of, you know, costs by a thousand slashes, have added up and are now really costing Washington families.”
The Washington Hospitality Association conducted a study in response to concerns about the high prices.
Anton urged the public to continue dining out, saying, “While we’re trying to be transparent of what’s going on so you understand why costs are up, at the same time we still we need you to eat out because we want your favorite pizza place or other place to still be there a year from now.”
Despite the challenges, Cameron highlighted the positive developments in downtown Spokane.
“In just the last year, we’ve had 29 new businesses open in downtown Spokane, and so there are lots of new things to come and experience,” she said.
Cameron encourages residents not to be deterred by the high prices.
“Don’t be deterred. Downtown is still open. We still have amazing, retail restaurants and experiences for everyone to come and enjoy,” she said.
