Most locals can remember a time when the majority of storefronts on Narrowsburg’s Main Street were boarded up. After years of a thriving business district on Main Street, with a grocery store, gym, even a bakery, the early 90’s saw them close. 

As we know now, Narrowsburg is back and open for business, with new offerings and weekends so busy you can’t find a parking spot. 

What visitors may not see, though, is the work it took to get there—the arduous planning and zoning processes, the startup costs, the staffing challenges. Many of these remain today. 

We are seeing businesses open and close throughout our Sullivan County community. But seeing restaurants close is especially hard, as the cost of business seems to be becoming untenable. 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food prices in February 2026 were 3.1 percent higher than in February 2025.

The research differentiates between food that was purchased for consumption at home or away from home: the food-away-from-home (restaurant and other foodservice purchases) Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.3 percent from January 2026 to February 2026 and was 3.9 percent higher than in February 2025. The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 0.5 percent from January 2026 to February 2026 and was 2.4 percent higher than in February 2025.

Overall, in 2026, food-away-from home prices are predicted to rise 3.9 percent, faster than their 20-year historical average rate of price increase (3.5 percent). Food-at-home prices are predicted to rise 3.1 percent, also faster than their 20-year historical average rate of price increase (2.6 percent).

The USDA also breaks it down by category. Beef and veal prices are predicted to increase 10.1 percent in 2026, fresh vegetables are predicted to increase 4.8 percent, and sugar and sweets are predicted to increase by 9.8 percent.

What about eggs? After a spike in prices due to avian influenza beginning in 2022, prices are now expected to drop, with the USDA predicting a 28.6 percent decrease in price. 

Despite these rising prices, the food producers are not making any more money; in fact they are losing it. 

And these costs get passed on to the restaurant owners, who have to grapple with adjusting menu prices and paying their staff—or, unfortunately, closing their doors entirely. 

And consumers are being hit with high grocery bills, where a bag of groceries seems to be double what it used to be.

It can be seen in the increased numbers of people showing up to food pantries, where volunteers are handing out thousands of items. But when those needing the items are already stretched thin will a few cans or boxes of food be enough?

On top of this, the soaring gas prices and stagnant wages are putting an extra strain on everyone’s wallets, but especially those who are just trying to afford the basics, like rent and a car. 

Is the cost of doing business becoming so high that we will see our main streets boarded up again? We certainly hope not.