Tappahannock Business Owner Faces Rising Costs, Staffing Shortages

Small business owners and residents in Tappahannock, Va., are adapting to a sharp rise in operating costs and consumer prices.

Jean Owens, owner of Java Jacks, reports that coffee prices have increased by more than 30% since 2022. The cost of paper products for takeout orders has nearly doubled, with to-go boxes rising from 12 cents to nearly 30 cents and full cup sets jumping from 3 cents to over 20 cents. Owens stated that the cafe's monthly electricity bill has also surged from a typical $450 or $500 to over $1,000.

To manage expenses, Owens has 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 regularly compares prices among three different suppliers and switches vendors to secure the lowest costs. Owens said she has kept some menu items at $10 to remain accessible to her regular customers.

Staffing remains the most significant challenge for the cafe. Owens, who also operates a coffee shop in Warsaw, has been short-staffed at both locations for months. She attributes the difficulty to rising rents in an area with a median income of approximately $50,000. Owens said she has helped employees find housing and has even paid for motel rooms for some staff. She currently carpools with about five employees who lack reliable transportation.

Jameka Campbell, an office manager and community outreach director in Richmond County, said she is monitoring the midterm election race between Republican Rob Wittman and Democrat Shannon Taylor. Campbell said she intends to review the candidates' property ownership and living situations before casting her vote. She works two jobs at the Menokin historical site and the nonprofit Just Harvest Va, where she helps BIPOC communities with food sovereignty and gardening education.

Campbell uses the Walgreens app to track coupons and rewards, aiming to limit her monthly household supply spending to $100. On a recent trip to a store in Callao, she purchased toilet paper, laundry detergent, and other items for $60.04, saving $27.71. She said the savings covered a meal or a quarter tank of gas. Campbell said she is currently managing her finances well, describing her status as neither rich nor poor but in between.