Small business owners in Conroe area struggle with rising costs
Business owners in the Conroe and Montgomery area are facing economic challenges from rising costs in labor, goods, fuel and operating expenses. At least 13 business owners closed or moved to online-only storefronts since early 2025, with restaurants particularly affected.
- When it happened
- October 29, 2026
- Where
- Conroe, Montgomery County
- First reported by an outlet
- Oct 29, 2026 at 3:15 pm
- Confirmed by
- the original record or a trusted outlet
Taxes & money
| What | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Average gasoline cost increase since August 2025 | 30.4%[1] | Business owners |
Who's involved
The facts
- At least 13 business owners in the Conroe and Montgomery area closed or moved to online-only storefronts since early 2025, with the majority offering fast and sit-down dining experiences.[1]
- Vick's Texas BBQ closed in January 2026 after rising gasoline and food costs combined with unexpected medical bills made it nearly impossible for owners Greg and Shelly Vick to continue operations.[1]
- According to the Texas Restaurant Association's quarterly member poll, 60% of restaurant and dining venue owners reported at least a slight increase in labor costs.[1]
- According to the Texas Restaurant Association's quarterly member poll, 45% of restaurant owners reported day-to-day operating costs 'significantly' increasing.[1]
- The average cost of gasoline has risen 30.4% since August 2025 per the U.S. Energy Administration.[1]
- In a 2025 poll by the Houston Population Research Center, 70% of local Houstonians said they felt good about job opportunities in Houston, but that number fell to under 50% by the start of 2026.[1]
- A decline in perception of job opportunities in Montgomery County from 2025 to 2026 was the largest single-year decline ever detected in the county, second only to the Harris County decline behind the 1982-83 oil crisis.[1]
Who said what
- Emily Knight, president of the Texas Restaurant Association While some businesses experienced modest improvements in sales and traffic during the second quarter, those gains continue to be offset by rising labor, food, insurance, occupancy and operating costs.[1]
- Emily Knight, president of the Texas Restaurant Association Demand remains steady, but profitability—not traffic—is the defining challenge for restaurant operators in 2026.[1]
- Emily Knight, president of the Texas Restaurant Association Inflation is moderating, giving operators some relief on menu pricing, but elevated beef prices, insurance costs, labor availability and credit card processing fees are expected to remain significant headwinds.[1]
- Greg Vick, owner of Vick's Texas BBQ The past two years have been extremely hard on small family businesses, especially food trucks. The stress of running the business, rising food costs, shopping, prep and daily operations became simply too much for one person.[1]
- Daniel Potter, director of the Houston Population Research Center In 2026, the number one problem that people identify facing the Houston area is the economy.[1]
- Daniel Potter, director of the Houston Population Research Center There has been an unprecedented decline in trust in the economy as 2026 unfolds.[1]
Sources
- News A changing economy: small business owners face new challenges amid rising costs Community Impact · Oct 29, 2026
Written by AI from the sources above, under fixed rules: every fact is cited, claims are kept apart from facts, and dollar figures appear only when a source states them. Mistakes get corrected in public.