Evanston businesses took the Jan. 1 Illinois minimum wage increase to $15 an hour in stride.
January’s increase — a $1 growth from last year — capped the gradual rise of Illinois’ minimum wage.
Jeff Gronske, Epic Burger’s director of operations, said he prioritizes his workers by paying them well above the minimum wage. He said it is important that employees can afford to work where they live and spend money here.
Gronske said for other local businesses, he can see how raising the minimum wage makes it difficult to maintain profit.
“Raising the minimum wage $1 every year to catch up makes it very hard to run a business,” he said. “It takes a ton of work and scale in order for it to actually make any money.”
In 2024, Evanston’s City Council debated raising the wage beyond the state level but ultimately decided not to. Ald. Devon Reid (8th) had strongly pushed for an Evanston increase.
Reid said he agrees with the statewide wage increase but also believes the minimum wage should reflect county living costs.
“It is more expensive to live in Evanston than it is to live in downstate Illinois,” Reid said. “I think our local minimum wage should reflect those realities to ensure that folks can afford to live and work in Evanston.”
Reid said businesses are adjusting to minimum wage increases but that more work is still required of the county.
Some Evanston businesses said they are pleased with the current minimum wage. Angelica D’Costa, owner of the clothing boutique Madison Grace, said the increase in wages has not affected her business.
“I’m happy where it is right now,” D’Costa said. “I think capping it at where it’s at for 2025 would be sufficient.”
Other business owners agreed the raise has not been an issue for them. Alley Gallery co-owner Ross Martens said he knew the increase was coming and implemented changes that did not pose a burden for his company.
With regard to potential further increases, Martens said he is a proponent of ensuring a living wage for employees.
“Housing is pretty darn expensive these days, and we want a happy and healthy staff,” Martens said. “They work hard here, and they deserve to be able to live on what they’re making.”
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