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'It hits small and local places harder': Fewer eggs and higher costs make breakfast a tough sell

Countrywide egg shortage is extra impactful for organic, gluten free and locally owned breakfast restaurant No Way Cafe in West Bend.
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Posted 3:19 PM, Mar 14, 2025

WEST BEND, Wis. — The egg shortage and high costs make it hard for cafe owners to flourish in the breakfast food business.

No Way Café co-owner Jackie Cull said the egg shortage has had an extra impact on her organic and gluten free restaurant.

West Bend cafe owners and customers feeling the impact of high egg prices during shortage
West Bend cafe owners and customers feeling the impact of high egg prices during shortage

"Everything takes eggs," she said. "I think it just hits us small and local places harder. We don't have the big pocket books like the big chain stores."

Watch: How this local cafe is adapting to the most expensive eggs ever seen:

Fewer eggs, higher costs make breakfast a tough sell for West Bend cafe owners

She owns the building with her husband Aaron Cull, who said they're able to stay open despite the high food costs because they don't have to pay rent.

Jackie Cull is the Co-owner of No Way Cafe in West Bend
Jackie Cull is the Co-owner of No Way Cafe in West Bend

According to the USDA, eggs cost $5.81 per dozen in January, and climbed to an all time high in early March at $8.17.

Some restaurants have added an extra fee to certain foods due to the high costs. Aaron said they haven't felt the need to do that yet.

"It jumped two bucks in a week and a half!" Aaron said. "We'll probably leave it for now, but if it keeps going up then we're going to definitely add something because it's all coming out of profit, you know?"

Aaron Cull is the Co-owner of No Way Cafe in West Bend
Jackie Cull is the Co-owner of No Way Cafe in West Bend

The Culls hope the shortage stops soon as prices began to decrease mid-March. Jackie said No Way Café is one of the few restaurants that only serves gluten free food, something people don't realize can be hard to find.

"I have girls coming in in tears because they can eat anything here and not worry about getting gluten sick and they love that," she said.

No Way Cafe customers Jane Kadow and Sara drew
No Way Cafe customers Jane Kadow and Sara drew

Jane Kadow ate breakfast with her daughter Sara Drew on Thursday.

"We like eggs, and I do buy them but they've gotten too darn expensive! It's really hard to afford them," she said. "We used to be able to have a breakfast for $18 and now it's like $25 at least for the same stuff."

The high cost impacts No Way Café's other foods that require eggs like, donuts, muffins and french toast.


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