At least five more restaurants in Seattle are closing their doors just days after the city council’s new minimum wage law mandating an hourly pay of $20.76 an hour went into effect — with the local hospitality industry predicting that more small businesses will go under in 2025. The owner of the Bel Gatto bakery in West Seattle posted a sign on its door announcing that after less than a year in business, it will no longer offer service to customers. “Our revenues, unfortunately, are not able to cover the close to 20% increase in mandated wages, salaries and payroll taxes put into effect by the Seattle City Council effective 1/1/25,” the note read.

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