Small business owners and residents in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District are navigating significant financial pressures brought on by rising prices and inflation. From running local cafes to budgeting for household supplies, community members describe how increased costs are reshaping their daily lives and business operations.
The Financial Strain on Small Business Owners
Jeans Owens, owner of the Java Jacks cafe in the riverside town of Tappahannock, Virginia, has experienced severe price hikes since taking over the business with her husband about eight years ago. Owens told NPR that coffee prices have surged by over 30% since 2022, while the costs of beef, sausage, and takeout packaging have also increased significantly. To-go boxes that once cost 12 cents now approach 30 cents, and the total cost for a cup, lid, and straw has jumped from around 3 cents to more than 20 cents. Furthermore, the cafe’s monthly electricity bill has doubled from roughly $450 or $500 to over $1,000.
To keep menu items affordable and preserve some meals at $10, Owens alters her purchasing habits by shopping early in the morning at Walmart for milk and juice, visiting a local grocery store for fresh fruit, and comparing prices across three different suppliers. She has also observed changes in customer behavior, noting an increase in senior citizens sharing orders and fluctuating tip amounts linked to gas price shifts.
Beyond supply costs, Owens faces major challenges in finding and retaining staff due to a rural median income of around $50,000 and rising local rents. She has had to assist employees in finding housing, temporarily lodge them in motels, and coordinate carpools for workers lacking transportation or struggling with fuel prices. These staffing shortages force Owens to spend her days working in the kitchen and handling administrative tasks during her evenings and days off. Although she avoids discussing midterm politics, her experiences with local housing and transportation deficits prompted her to run for the non-partisan town council, emphasizing that small businesses in the district are struggling regardless of whether long-time Republican incumbent Rob Wittman or Democratic challenger Shannon Taylor wins the tight congressional race.
Coping Strategies and Household Budgeting
Jameka Campbell, an office manager at the Menokin historical site and community outreach director for the nonprofit Just Harvest Va in Richmond County, feels that politicians are disconnected from current economic realities. Campbell suggests that leaders should personally visit grocery stores to witness actual prices rather than sending others to shop for them.
Raising two children while working two jobs, Campbell relies on coupon strategies using the Walgreens app at a store in nearby Callao to manage household expenses. By timing purchases around sales, buying in bulk, and strategically checking out in batches to apply rewards immediately, she successfully lowers her spending on laundry detergent, paper products, and cleaning supplies. Campbell explained to NPR that savings from these shopping trips provide funds that can cover a meal or a partial tank of gas.
As the midterm elections approach, Campbell plans to thoroughly research the candidates’ past actions, property ownership, and lifestyle to determine how well they represent her community. Reflecting on her financial standing, Campbell noted that she is neither rich nor poor, and draws personal resilience from the history of the enslaved people who once farmed the land at Menokin.
