File photo
File photo
Restaurants in Champaign are trying to stay afloat despite the one-two punch of the COVID-19 virus outbreak and the increase in prices due to the growing scarcity of meat because of packing plant closures.
"It's hard for us to maintain the prices right now," Brandon Anaya, general manager of Mo’s Burritos, told Fox Illinois. "Everything has increased in the market. Meat went from $3 a pound to almost $7 a pound and we have been trying to keep the prices as low as we can because we know it's hard to get money right now."
Due to the nation's meat-supply shortage, many restaurants are having to make some changes. Mo's has a storefront restaurant and nearby food truck located on the corner of West Bradley and Prospect avenues.
“The pandemic has impacted the number of customers at their restaurant, but the food truck is a thriving take-out location for customers,” the report said.
Anaya said the storefront restaurant helps support the business out of the food truck by prepping supplies like the meat. The restaurant has been in business for almost 10 years.
Anaya said that even with the pandemic, he is not raising his prices at the moment.
“We’d rather spend a few extra dollars on quality meat, over quantity, to better serve our customers,” he said.
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