Business owners feel the effect of the high price of eggs

Kumi Tucker WNYT

6pm: Business owners feel the effect of high egg prices

Local business owners have to work around the high price of eggs these days. Some businesses don't have a choice-- they can't do without eggs.

At Mimi’s Kitchen Cafe in Albany, all the breakfast sandwiches and burritos and omelets that customers love take a lot of eggs.

Owner MaryAnn Cortese, who opened the business four years ago, can’t believe the price of eggs.

“Over the last year, they were $54 for the case that I buy, that’s 15 dozen,” she said. “Now that same case is $111. It’s insane.”

You can find Mimi’s Kitchen Cafe on the ground floor of an office building on Palisades Drive off of Everett Road in Albany, where it’s easy for workers to take out sandwiches and salads.

5pm: Mimi’s Kitchen Cafe feels the effect of high egg prices

Local business owners find themselves having to work around the high price of eggs. Some of them really have no choice, and they're feeling the pinch.

At Mimi’s, they serve with a smile, but they’re feeling the pinch.

“Oh, yes,” said Cortese. “There’s no doubt about it. And then other things are going up too now. We’re just trying to do the best we can.”

The family-owned cafe recently added a menu note that is a common sight these days. It states that egg products have a temporary increase of fifty cents.

Mimi’s breakfast and lunch customers don’t seem to mind.

“They have been understanding,” said Cortese. “Luckily we have the best people, the best customers out there, loyal, loyal good people. They understand. Because they feel it too.”

4pm: Paesan’s Pizza feels the effect of high egg prices

If you've gone shopping recently, you know that eggs are expensive these days. Places like Paesan's Pizza in Latham cannot do without these eggs, and business owners are feeling the pinch.

At Paesan’s Pizza in Latham, owner Frank Scavio says last week, 15 dozen grade A eggs, which is a case, was a $100, and this week, three days later, it’s $115.

“A15% increase and we use eggs for almost everything: chicken, eggplant, veal, shrimp, it’s used daily here,” he said. “We go through quite an amount, and we’re going into the Superbowl, so that’s another issue with chicken wings.”

Business is good here at Paesans. The customers keep coming, and Scavio says he will have plenty of wings for the big game.

“Superbowl is going to be insane,” said Scavio. “Every single year we wind up doing this interview with you guys because the demand goes through the roof. Consumer is big. There’s a big labor shortage still out there, transportation is another big issue that we’re having because back then we did a pallet transportation, it was 80 bucks. Now it’s 3-400 dollars to transport chicken wings, eggs, you name it. And the bird flu has really affected us this year.”

If you take a look, the eggs are a little smaller, but he’s happy to have them.

“We’ll take whatever we can get. Beggars can’t be choosers. Basically I am happy, whatever my vendor sells me, we are happy with here. We are pretty desperate right now, if you can get a hold of them. I hear of people paying $165 for a case of eggs!”