A business owner in West Seattle lamented that the closure of her business due to the rising minimum wage means the loss of a place where locals could safely gather.

Seattle's latest minimum wage increase proved to be the final straw for one restaurant owner, who decided she was better off to just close her doors for good.

As of Jan. 1, Seattle’s minimum wage increased by 79 cents, reaching $20.76 per hour for all businesses, regardless of size. The other half of the building will also close for in-person business later this year, another casualty of Seattle’s rising business costs.

Restaurants and coffee shops, which often operate on thin profit margins, are struggling to absorb the costs of the $20.76 wage.