Increases in food and fuel prices have dished out some difficult times for local restaurant owners.
Teo Estrada, a co-owner of nine Mi Rancho Mexican restaurants, said the stagnant economy is dealing his businesses a tough blow.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s going to get any better quickly. We’re struggling,” Estrada said. “We’re catching hell with the bills. We’re not making money like the way we used to, just basically paying the bills. Everything has gone up, and we can’t really go up (in prices) because of the people … no jobs. It’s bad.”