After the closing of Mufflerman in Wallaceburg last week, some residents worry this may be the start of businesses closing due to next month’s minimum wage hike. 
A letter was circulated to customers last week, citing economic conditions beyond the owners’ control.
Karen Debergh from the Wallaceburg Chamber of Commerce says she doesn’t think the minimum wage hike is to blame, but other businesses are certainly worried.
“I know they had some prediction as to how many jobs it would cost,” Deburgh says, “but now they just announced they’re going to try to offset the minimum wage hike by lowering the tax rate.”
Debergh says she can’t say for sure how other Wallaceburg businesses will be affected, but she says shopping locally is the key to keeping stores and services open.