CAVE CREEK, Ariz. — Signs on the outside of a new restaurant near Tatum and Dynamite Boulevards, show it’s opening soon.
“I told everybody it would be August,” owner Jason Clouse said.
Clouse said he’s just hoping for sometime in 2021 because it's now mid-October and the restaurant is still under construction.
‘Floating in the Pacific'
The walls are framed and drywall is hung, but specific items needed in the restaurant aren’t there.
“It’s a nightmare you don’t want to be in,” Clouse said.
Clouse has been paying thousands of dollars in rent since December 2020, with his blueprints in hand, ready to open Loco J’s Tacos and Tequilas.
“I don’t have anything,” Clouse said. “It’s probably floating in the Pacific along with every other container ship.”
The large kitchen also sits mostly empty right now.
“I spent $275,000 on all my equipment, refrigerators, and ovens. I had to give $150,000 deposit five months ago, so that’s sitting out somewhere,” Clouse said.
While he’s waiting on most of his items, some items have come in; the doors that lead out to the restaurant’s patio arrived just last week.
“Those were ordered seven months ago so lucky me those are here,” Clouse said.
Other businesses affected
At Bicycles of Scottsdale, they too are being affected by supply chain issues.
“Almost every bike you see here was ordered a year ago,” lead tech Christopher Sharp said.
Sharp said they’re not only waiting for new release bikes, but for parts too.
“People pulling out their bikes from five years ago that need tires or whatever else, you can’t get the stuff for it, or we’re waiting for it to be shipped in,” Sharp explained.
Issues are not going away soon
Arizona State University Professor Craig Carter, who specializes in supply chain management, said the issues aren’t going away anytime soon.
“I believe we’re going to be talking about this until the beginning of 2023,” Carter said.
Regardless of the timeframe, Clouse said he'll continue to diligently wait until he can finally open his restaurant.
“I’m hoping by the time the liquor license and everything gets here, I’ll be open in December,” Clouse said. “Otherwise, I’ll be sitting here waiting.”
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