A Livable Wage

Livable Wage Surcharge

As an independently owned restaurant, over the last thirty plus years, we have identified four core values we operate by: great food, superior hospitality, community connection, and respect for the individual. We care for our guests, our community, and our staff equally. It is to the last point that we write this.

We believe we have both a genuine opportunity, and responsibility, to try and correct a long-standing issue in the restaurant industry: the disparity between Front of House and Back of House wages. Our Back of House staff are hard-working, talented, and absolutely essential to the success of our business, and to your experience as a guest. However, the modern tipping structure in this country overlooks them, and often leaves them making considerably less than their tipped counterparts.

When you combine that wage gap with the high cost of living in our mountain community, it becomes very clear that we must do more to support these vital people behind the scenes. In small restaurants such as ours, that focus on from-scratch recipes and quality ingredients, we cannot operate, much less thrive, without the line & prep cooks and dishwashers that keep the wheels turning. 

After careful consideration, we have implemented a 3% Surcharge added to every guest check, which goes directly to our hourly Back of House, divided equally based on number of hours worked. We believe that this is a fair and sustainable approach to a difficult problem, and want to maintain our integrity & honesty with you, our customers. We thank you for your understanding, and appreciate your support in creating a more equitable environment for the whole Hearthstone family.