California restaurant owner fears $20 wage hike will put him out of business: 'Increase prices or close'

A Los Angeles restaurant owner slammed the state’s newly enacted $20 minimum wage law, saying it could put him and others out of business as employees expect similar salary increases.

An LA Times column released on Saturday titled, "Small-business owners brace for uncertainty as the $20 hourly fast-food wage takes effect," details Foronda's plight as he and other restaurant owners say they're suffering at the hands of the state’s newly enacted $20 minimum wage. Yael Halon is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to yael.halon@fox.com. 

To counteract the financial repercussions of the pandemic, Foronda, 37, hosted a Filipino holiday market across from his restaurant to attract customers, started a board game night and arranged for a panel of DJs and emcees to discuss the history of Filipinos in hip-hop. While his initiatives have gone a long way in boosting his revenue, Foronda has also had to take a job as a nurse on weekends to keep his restaurant of five years open, the columnist writes.