One can sympathize with D.C. residents who, in 2022, overwhelmingly voted to eliminate the tipped minimum wage in the city. Proponents sold the measure — known as Initiative 82, which passed with nearly 74 percent of the vote — as a policy to guarantee restaurant servers a “living wage.” Instead, it is proving to be an economic disaster.

A trade association in Washington, D.C., recently surveyed area restaurants to gauge their economic outlook. The results were extremely discouraging: 40% of full-service casual eateries expect to close by year’s end. And that’s on top of the disappearing bottom line: The same survey of more than 200 dining establishments found 62% reporting lower profits in 2024.

“What you created here was really special,” a father stops to tell Brookland’s Finest co-owner Tony Tomelden while herding his two...

In Fells Point, Gail Furman, owner of Max's Taphouse, is voicing her concerns over the proposed 'One Fair Wage Bill' introduced by five City Council members. The bill aims to increase the base minimum wage for tipped employees from $3.63 to $15 an hour.

Known as the “One Fair Wage bill” after the advocacy group of the same name, legislation pending before the Baltimore City Council could increase the base minimum wage for employees earning tips from $3.63 to $15 per hour.