Java Jacks Owner Reports 30% Coffee Cost Jump

Jeans Owens, owner of Java Jacks in Tappahannock, Va., raised menu prices to cover a 30% increase in coffee costs since 2022. The riverside cafe, which Owens and her husband purchased eight years ago, faces higher expenses for beef, sausage, and paper products. Owens noted that to-go boxes now cost nearly 30 cents apiece, up from 12 cents in the past. She added that the combined cost of a cup, lid, and straw has risen from about 3 cents to more than 20 cents.

The cafe’s utility bills have also climbed sharply. Owens said her monthly electricity payment, which typically ranged from $450 to $500, has exceeded $1,000 recently. To maintain affordable menu items, including meals priced at $10, Owens changed her purchasing habits. She now buys milk and juice at Walmart in the early morning and sources fresh fruit from a local grocery store. She compares prices among three suppliers and switches vendors based on which offers the lowest costs.

Customer behavior at Java Jacks has shifted in response to higher prices. Owens observed an increase in senior citizens splitting orders, a trend that was rare when she acquired the business. Tipping patterns also fluctuated with gas prices; tips decreased when fuel costs rose and recovered when they fell. Owens aims to keep the business profitable while managing these changes in spending.

Staffing remains a primary challenge for Owens, who also owns a coffee shop in Warsaw, Va. She has been short-staffed at both locations for months due to rising rents in the rural area, where the median income is approximately $50,000 annually. Owens has helped employees find housing, including temporary motel stays, and carpool five employees to work because some lack reliable transportation or face high gas costs. Owens now works in the kitchen to cover shifts, delaying front-of-house duties and paperwork.

Owens is running for a seat on the non-partisan town council in Tappahannock. She said she wants the winner of the congressional race in Virginia’s 1st District to understand the financial pressures on small businesses. The district includes a contested race between Republican incumbent Rob Wittman and Democrat Shannon Taylor. Owens stated plainly that small businesses are struggling.

Jameka Campbell, an office manager at Menokin in Richmond County, manages her household budget by using coupons and tracking sales at a Walgreens in Callao. She reported spending $60.04 on a recent trip for household supplies while saving $27.71. Campbell, who works two jobs while raising two children, said she is researching candidates for the midterm election. She plans to evaluate their property ownership and living situations before voting. Campbell said she is currently in between being rich and poor, noting that her financial status could change quickly.

Campbell said she remains optimistic about managing her expenses. She drew strength from the history of the enslaved people who farmed at Menokin, where she works. She said their endurance helped her face the strain of high prices.