Virginia small business owners and workers adapt to rising costs ahead of midterms

Rising costs for ingredients, utilities, and labor are reshaping daily operations for small businesses and workers in Virginia's 1st Congressional District.

Jeans Owens took over the Java Jacks cafe in Tappahannock eight years ago, intending to build a business that would support her retirement. Since 2022, the price of coffee has increased by more than 30 percent. The cost of to-go boxes rose from 12 cents to nearly 30 cents, while the combined price of a cup, lid, and straw jumped from three cents to over 20 cents. Owens recently saw her monthly electricity bill climb from the $450 to $500 range to over $1,000. To manage expenses, she now shops for milk and juice at Walmart early in the morning and buys fresh fruit from a local grocery store instead of using a supplier. She also rotates between three vendors to secure the lowest prices, keeping some menu items at $10 to retain customers.

Staffing shortages have compounded these financial pressures. Owens operates a second coffee shop in Warsaw across the river and has been short-staffed for months at both locations. Rents in the rural area have increased despite a median household income of roughly $50,000. Owens has helped employees find housing and occasionally stays them in a motel. She also carpools about five employees to work because they lack cars or cannot afford current gas prices. Owens has taken on kitchen shifts to cover labor gaps, deferring administrative work until her evenings and days off. She is running for the non-partisan Tappahannock town council, citing the lack of housing and transportation in the area as key issues. The congressional race in the district is between Republican incumbent Rob Wittman and Democrat Shannon Taylor.

Jameka Campbell, an office manager and community outreach director in Richmond County, works two jobs to support her two children. She manages the administrative side of Menokin, a historical site, and directs the nonprofit Just Harvest Va, which promotes food sovereignty in BIPOC communities. Campbell tracks discounts at a Walgreens in Callao to keep household costs down. On a recent trip, she purchased toilet paper, tissues, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, and personal care items for $60.04, saving $27.71 through rewards and promotions. She plans to research candidates' property holdings and past records before voting in the midterms. Campbell describes her financial status as middle-class, noting that her economic security could shift rapidly due to job loss or unexpected gains.

Owens and Campbell both plan to monitor the midterms closely, with Campbell stating she will decide on a candidate closer to election day.