DIXON, CA (MPG) - Appearing battle worn, Diane Long, franchise owner of the BurgerIM sat at one of the restaurant’s booths and could not recant a time without struggle from the beginning of the restaurant facility inspections and franchise issues that terribly prolonged their opening to this past week when she sadly placed a notice of closure as of June 30 on their front windows. The large photo on the wall of her with her two sons on either side are a reminder they were all in.

“The stress has been unbelievable. I’m on robot right now,” she said after they have depleted every bit of savings to keep their dream alive. All of them work at the restaurant and “can’t seem to catch a break.”

In simple terms, one might say it has been a litany of misfortune.

“We were supposed to open in June of 2019 but due to inspections, did not open until April 2020,” the very month the California Governor issued a stay-at-home order. Having to pay rent and utilities the entire time was not helpful, but Long, a nurse, kept working and Matthew, her 32-year-old son who enjoyed working in the restaurant industry contributed the balance of his college fund.

Thankfully, Dixonites began to discover the place and the reviews were getting better.

“Dixon has been our only support,” she said but then they’ve struggled with the supply chain issues and sky-rocketing inflation.

“Chicken used to cost me $70 per case and now is $177 per case. I’m paying three times more but can’t raise my prices three times more,” she said. One week she could not get the rolls that are franchise-standard and the next week it was onion rings.

Originally, Long put in her retirement fund to buy the franchise but is now hoping their additional Small Business Loan might be forgiven. They did get $34,000 in COVID Relief money a year ago that kept them going for another year, and they were limping toward summer knowing vacationers would be coming through.

Their debt to Pacific Gas and Electric bills of $2,000 - $3,000 a month were negotiated on a payment plan that would keep them solvent until summer.

“Previously at this time of year, we would be filled with a lot of travelers passing through but with soaring gas prices, that’s not happening. This morning we found cracked glass and a hole in one of the large windows that was done by youth last night. It never ends,” said Long who lamented.

“We’re going out kicking and screaming...although I do believe in miracles,” she said.

“While restaurants have always ranked as one of the most difficult businesses to run successfully, the impacts of the pandemic have simply thrown fuel onto the fire. We have all had to deal with sharply rising food and fuel costs. Restaurants are continually dealing with these as well and have little choice but to pass the increased costs on to their patrons,” said Larry Burkhardt, City of Dixon Economic Development/Grants Manager.

“Add to that the difficulty restaurants have in attracting and retaining qualified help in an environment where costs have risen and jobs in more stable and higher paying business sectors are plentiful. Finally, rampant inflation is causing consumers to cut back on their personal expenses. For most, eating out is a highly discretionary expense, and in times like these, can be one of the first items cut from the family budget,” he added.

The best Long says she can hope for is someone to take over their 8-year lease.

“We spent $500,000 but someone could come in and spend half that and just change the sign. That would be the best scenario,” she said. The restaurant is located at 115 East Dorset, Suite E in the Walmart Shopping Center. For more information, call Long at (707) 718-6214.