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Chicago Restaurants Squeeze Profits Amid Rising Costs

7/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In Chicago, restaurants are feeling the pinch as revenue and foot traffic plummet by 10-15%. With rising costs and tariffs squeezing budgets, diners are opting for more affordable meals, leading profit margins to shrink from 5-10% pre-pandemic to just 1-5%. The ongoing tariff turmoil adds to the struggle of managing supply chain expenses.

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Story summary

In Chicago, restaurants are feeling the pinch as revenue and foot traffic plummet by 10-15%. With rising costs and tariffs squeezing budgets, diners are opting for more affordable meals, leading profit margins to shrink from 5-10% pre-pandemic to just 1-5%. The ongoing tariff turmoil adds to the struggle of managing supply chain expenses.