New data from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce revealed that inflation and retail theft are two of the biggest issues that local business owners have faced this past year.

A whopping 87% of businesses who responded to the 2023 survey cited those two issues as their biggest concerns – including Electric Beets, a plant-based deli in Brooklyn that is working around these problems.

“The cost of red bell peppers, one week they can be $50 for 25 pounds and next week they can be $100...It's dramatically impacting our price points and our margins,” said Cecily Tinder, owner of Electric Beets. “It's a challenge so we're working to navigate that every single day."

Just a few blocks over from that business is the Roots Hill Café, where retail theft has plagued them. They joined nearly 50% of responders to the survey who said that they made changes to their operations last year due to crime and safety concerns.

“Our door was completely smashed, somebody came in, took all of our money's for that day, backup money, sales,” said Alejandra Dodd, co-owner of the café. “We used to have later operating hours, we had to shorten them because in the last couple of years, its coming too early in the morning for us its finding either homeless people or drug addicts.”

These businesses say they’re anticipating to have a better year in 2024 and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce says they’re dedicated to helping out these business owners.