Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News
The owner of the beloved Park Slope pie and pasta joint Franny’s says Obamacare is forcing her to tack on 3% to all checks to offset the cost of federally mandated insurance for her employees.
President Obama is being blamed for the rising price of Brooklyn pizza.
The owner of the beloved Park Slope pie and pasta joint Franny’s says the President’s signature health care law is forcing her to tack on 3% to all checks to offset the $ 200,000 cost of federally mandated insurance for her 50-plus employees.
“This is a cost that we cannot absorb without going out of business,” owner Francine Stephens tells the Daily News. “We’re quite sensitive to raising prices too much so we wanted to offer transparency,” she adds.
frannysbrooklyn.com
Franny’s restaurant in Brooklyn updated its menu to reflect the new 3% surcharge.
So as of this week, an $ 18 pasta dish is now $ 19 and the $ 18 pizza has risen to $ 20.
The Affordable Care Act requires all businesses with more than 49 full-time employees to provide reasonably priced health insurance or face fines of $ 2,000 per worker per year. Stephens employs more than 50 workers when she includes Franny’s and her other establishments, Rose’s Bar and Grill and BKLYN Larder, a market.
Jeremy Bales
As of this week, an $ 18 pasta dish is now $ 19 and the $ 18 pizza has risen to $ 20 at Franny’s.
Stephens announced the Obamacare surcharge in a tiny note on her restaurant’s website. But she’s not alone in blaming the President for passing the buck onto her customers. Several months ago Gator’s Dockside, a chain restaurant in Florida, tacked on 1%, also citing Obamacare. And Los Angeles restaurant Republique added 3% to its bills — though it is unclear if the health care law was the lone culprit.
And health care isn’t the only pressure on restaurateurs. Stephens said her prices have also risen because she has given raises to many employees as a result of the recent push for higher wages for restaurant workers in New York State.
YOAN VALAT/EPA
President Obama’s Affordable Care Act requires all businesses with more than 49 full-time employees to provide reasonably priced health insurance or face fines of $ 2,000 per worker per year.
In that context, she hopes her customers will understand — and fork out the extra green. But she knows some can’t afford $ 19 for a plate of fried polenta with brussels sprouts and chestnuts.
“On a realistic level, I think a number of our guests will not be able to come as much,” Stephens told Eater.
jsettembre@nydailynews.com
Tags:
park slope ,
brooklyn restaurants ,
obamacare ,
barack obama ,
minimum wage
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Lifestyle – NY Daily News