Rising costs impacting one Lincoln business; owner now asking for support from community

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — One local business is feeling the pinch of rising costs.

Mo Java Cafe & Roasting Co. posted on social media about rising costs and insufficient business, which is affecting the store’s hours.

“Nothing is getting any cheaper; everything is getting to be more expensive,” said owner Paul Marshall.

After 30 years of being open seven days a week, the cafe is now closing on Mondays.

Located in the Uni Place Creative District, businesses around Mo Java also close on Mondays.

“With food costs and coffee costs all rising, as well as labor costs, bringing on more staff is a costly situation,” Marshall said.

Marshall opened the doors of Mo Java in 1994 when he was 26 years old.

After that, the small business quickly became a pillar in the community.

So for Marshall, it’s no surprise so many people are offering their support.

“There’s been so many comments, many people we haven’t seen in a while coming back in,” he said. “People are genuinely concerned about the welfare of this business, as it is very important to this community. There are many people who have been patronizing us for years and years.”

Nebraska raised its minimum wage to $ 15 an hour on January 1.

Because of this, Marshall said the cafe will also be reducing its team to help keep costs down.

“With minimum wage going up, that money has to come from somewhere,” he said. “Those wage increases, coupled with the costs of all of our supplies going up, are really putting a damper on us, and I’m sure many other small businesses in Lincoln.”