BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — When Biggby Coffee customers order at the drive-thru or pick up their order inside, they'll see a sign telling them prices will increase on July 1.
Gary Dible owns four Biggby locations: two in Bowling Green, one in Perrysburg and one in Maumee.
"We're the last ones to raise our prices," Dible said.
But since the COVID-19 pandemic, he said operational costs have gone up.
Take espresso beans for example. Dible said before COVID, a box of six bags ran him $100. Now, it's $180.
"Every sector of owning a business has gone up," he said. "I'm just not seeing the relief."
He said he's only raised prices slightly once since COVID. But to keep up with inflation and to pay employees a competitive wage, he said he has to raise prices at all of his locations. Between 5-15% depending on the item.
"As much as I hate to do it, it's time," Dible said. "I have to do it now."
Dible isn't the only owner to raise prices, though.
According to the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance, in June of 2022, 91% of Ohio business owners reported in a survey that they increased menu prices to offset rising operational costs.
In June of 2024, 70% reported they plan to raise prices once more.
While Dible said he stuck it out as long as he could, he's confident the prices will be competitive.
"Our pricing, even though it went up, it's still cheaper than our competition," he said.
As for his customers, all of the people WTOL 11 spoke to don't plan on getting their coffee fix anywhere else.
"I understand, prices do go up," said customer Michael Judin. "As long as the quality stays the same and the service stays the same, I have no problem with them having to raise their prices because they have to."
The Ohio Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance told WTOL 11 that according to the latest state of the industry report, it is unlikely menu prices will go down any time soon.