Local business expresses concerns about the port strike

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – With the port strike affecting many businesses, a Cape Girardeau coffee shop owner is already looking ahead at the potential impact here at home.

Susan Stone, owner of Grace Coffee Shop and Cafe, told me their entire business depends on a port in Pennsylvania. When it comes to this cafe, coffee is served in a cardboard cup and refreshers are in a plastic cup with a straw.

However, the East Coast port strike of more than 40,000 workers could cause them to run out of those items.

Louise Sissom is a barista at Grace Cafe. She told us the shortages will impact customers the most.

“The quality that we would want or the right size. A lot of measurement and stuff like that goes into the cups and the lids and the straws–like tall straws, short straws,” Sissom said. “So those are all important things that you have to look at whenever you’re in a coffee shop and getting your products.”

And while the non-profit coffee shop isn’t feeling the strike’s effects just yet, they are preparing for what’s to come and keeping a close eye on any future shipments they are expecting.

Stone said their coffee bean produce may be affected down the line if this strike continues, so they are also keeping an eye on it as well.

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