Lush Wine & Spirits, a beloved Chicago eatery and wine shop, is caught in the crossfire of unpredictable tariffs. As President Donald Trump's trade policies continue to swing like a pendulum, business owner Mitch Einhorn finds himself wrestling with the uncertainty.
For Einhorn, the threat of higher tariffs is a constant source of anxiety. Since 2005, Lush has positioned itself as a welcoming spot for wine enthusiasts and foodies alike. The restaurant serves up everything from imported caviar to sandwiches and seafood, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in import costs.
Tariffs have already taken their toll on the business. A 15% tariff imposed on European wines since August has been passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. While Lush is taking steps to mitigate the impact, Einhorn can't help but feel that the tariffs are arbitrary and unfair.
The latest tariff threat, which could raise prices by up to 25%, has left Einhorn on edge. "It's just so arbitrary," he said. "When you think about how many hands touch a product... it impacts a lot of people."
Einhorn is not alone in his concerns. Small business owners and workers connected to imports are feeling the pinch. Port workers, truckers, and retail employees are all being affected by the tariffs, Einhorn noted.
As Lush continues to navigate these uncertain times, Einhorn is focusing on the things that matter most: creating delicious menu items and building a loyal customer base. He's even partnered with a vineyard in Washington to produce exclusive wines for his store.
Despite the challenges, Einhorn remains optimistic about Lush's future. "If you stop learning and doing new stuff, you cease to exist," he said. With its cozy atmosphere and expertly curated wine list, Lush Wine & Spirits is poised to continue thriving – even in the face of tariffs and uncertainty.
For Einhorn, the threat of higher tariffs is a constant source of anxiety. Since 2005, Lush has positioned itself as a welcoming spot for wine enthusiasts and foodies alike. The restaurant serves up everything from imported caviar to sandwiches and seafood, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in import costs.
Tariffs have already taken their toll on the business. A 15% tariff imposed on European wines since August has been passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. While Lush is taking steps to mitigate the impact, Einhorn can't help but feel that the tariffs are arbitrary and unfair.
The latest tariff threat, which could raise prices by up to 25%, has left Einhorn on edge. "It's just so arbitrary," he said. "When you think about how many hands touch a product... it impacts a lot of people."
Einhorn is not alone in his concerns. Small business owners and workers connected to imports are feeling the pinch. Port workers, truckers, and retail employees are all being affected by the tariffs, Einhorn noted.
As Lush continues to navigate these uncertain times, Einhorn is focusing on the things that matter most: creating delicious menu items and building a loyal customer base. He's even partnered with a vineyard in Washington to produce exclusive wines for his store.
Despite the challenges, Einhorn remains optimistic about Lush's future. "If you stop learning and doing new stuff, you cease to exist," he said. With its cozy atmosphere and expertly curated wine list, Lush Wine & Spirits is poised to continue thriving – even in the face of tariffs and uncertainty.
I don't get why we need all these tariffs. Like, who thought it was a good idea to make business owners like Mitch Einhorn super anxious about their livelihood? 
The guy's just trying to run his restaurant and make people happy with food and wine, not collect taxes for some government policy. 
.
. It's just another layer of uncertainty for owners like Mitch Einhorn to deal with.
. It's not just a matter of passing on costs to customers; it's about the human impact.
. And partnering with a vineyard in Washington? Genius move 
. But at the end of the day, I wish there was more clarity around these tariffs so small businesses like Lush could plan for the future with confidence 
.
tariffs are literally killing me. I feel for Mitch Einhorn and his business - how can they possibly predict what's going to happen next? 
I mean, he's already passing on the 15% tariff to consumers... that's gotta hurt sales 
. And now this new threat of a 25% increase? No thanks! 
What's the point of even having a business if you can't be sure what the future holds? 
. Fingers crossed for them! 
I don’t usually comment but... can we talk about how unfair this whole situation is? I mean, I get that trade policies are a thing, but it feels like our small businesses are just getting caught in the crossfire. It's not just Lush Wine & Spirits, either – I've seen so many other tiny shops and eateries struggling because of tariffs.
Maybe we can all take a page from his book and just keep on keeping on, even when things get tough 
So, fingers crossed that they can ride this wave of uncertainty and come out even stronger on the other side! 
.
. And poor Mitch Einhorn is having a tough time, trying to balance his business and all these unpredictable tariffs 
. On the other hand, he's still being positive about Lush and focusing on new things... that's the spirit! 
anyway i'm trying not to let it bring me down because, as mitch said, if you stop learning and doing new stuff u cease to exist 
!!! How can a business like Lush even plan for the future when prices are being messed around all over the place?! I mean, 15% already hit them and now they're talking about another 25%! It's just so unfair to their customers 
. And you know what really gets me? The fact that it's not just a business owner like Mitch Einhorn who is affected but also port workers, truckers, retail employees... the whole supply chain is being messed up 
...
But I do admire Mitch's attitude – staying positive and focusing on the things that matter most. And who knows, maybe this partnership with that vineyard is just what he needed to stay ahead of the game 
Like, who gets to decide how many hands touch a product anyway? 
Small business owners like him can't just adapt to these constant changes, it's like trying to play whack-a-mole with taxes. 
You know what really gets me about all this tariff business? It's not just about the numbers or the prices... it's about the people affected by it 
The impact on small businesses like Lush is already super evident with those higher prices. And now, the whole supply chain thing... it's like, what even is that?! 
It's not like they're hiding something from us or anything.
. Focusing on creating amazing menu items and building a loyal customer base... that's the way to do it! 
. It's like they're speaking different languages or something 
. We need them to thrive, not just survive 
that's the key to success in my opinion 
.
But hey, at least Einhorn is staying optimistic and focusing on the things that matter. I'm all about supporting local businesses too! Maybe we can even start a movement to get Lush to offer more affordable matcha lattes... just saying 
Anyway, what's really getting me is that Lush Wine & Spirits has to deal with all this uncertainty on top of running a business. I mean, I get it, they're in the wine industry and stuff, but come on! 
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