SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) —In a surprising trend, 80% of Americans now consider fast food to be a luxury, according to a recent poll at LendingTree. This shift is particularly evident in Syracuse, where rising prices at fast-food chains have not deterred customers but rather altered their dining habits, impacting local full-service restaurants.
According to the McDonald’s website, current prices compared to 2019 have seen a significant change. At McDonald’s, a medium 10-piece chicken nuggets meal now costs $9.71, nearly a 30% increase from 2019. Customers like Benny Cooper have noticed the uptick.
“Oh, they’ve definitely gone up,” Cooper said.
Several Syracuse residents declared McDonald’s, Popeyes and Taco Bell to be the top fast-food restaurants around town. Despite rising prices, Cooper says this isn’t discouraging him from patronage. When asked how often he frequents local restaurants Cooper was honest.
“Not very often,” Cooper said.
This trend poses a challenge for local establishments like Phoebe’s, which prides itself on offering a different dining experience.
“I think that people looking for a nice sit-down meal tend to come to Phoebe’s,” Jessica Tenike, manager of Phoebe’s said.
Interestingly, a glance at Phoebe’s menu reveals that their prices are not much different from those of fast-food chains.
“Summer tends to be a bit slower but we’re running a lot of promotions this summer that tend to ramp up business,” Tenike said.
Ultimately, the survival and success of local restaurants like Phoebe’s depend heavily on community support. It’s certainly up to the Syracuse community to get out there and support local businesses.
