2025: A year of financial hardship for local businesses

2025: A year of financial hardship for local businesses

A year defined by growth for independent businesses nationally was also a year marked by newfound financial hardships locally. In 2025, no business was immune to economic strain brought on by rising food costs, growing insurance rates, and formidable tariffs in the latest year. “I think financially it was hard for all of us independently, aside from running businesses — paying more in the grocery store, paying more on insurance — but when you lo…