HERRIN, Ill. (WSIL) -- It's not often that a plate of food costs 60 cents in the year 2023.
The Burger Nook in Herrin is offering meals at those prices to mark its 60th year in business, including fried bologna, corndogs and small hotdogs.
Owner Marilyn Phillips, who bought the burger joint 16 years ago, says she bought it because of the loyalty from the customers.
"It's people that come back day after day after day," Phillips said. "We enjoy them as much as they enjoy us."
But customers may have to pay more for the Burger Nook's food, says Phillips, thanks to another minimum wage increase in Illinois.
Starting January 1, the state minimum wage increases to $14 an hour. Since 2019 Illinois has increased the minimum wage each year by one dollar. The state's goal is to increase the wage to $15 an hour by 2025.
Though it helps workers make ends meet it also threatens to make food cost more according to Phillips.
"Not only is [the minimum wage] going up, prices on food is going up which means I would have to raise my prices," Phillips said. "There's not a choice if we want to stay open."
Food prices went up 9.9% in 2022 and were predicted to increase by 6.3% in 2023 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"It's very frustrating. Over the years it just keeps going up more each year," Phillips said.
Phillips is happy her workers are earning more money because they stuck with the restaurant through COVID-19, inflation and other reasons.
"They're very dependable and worth their money," Phillips said.
Phillips says it will be a struggle in 2024 knowing that food will cost more and so will the services of her loyal employees.
"It'll end up being fast food places in the future I think," Phillips said. "How are we going to survive?"
