• Home
  • Archive
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • May 19, 2025

The Madison Times

The Paper That's More Than Black and White

  • News
    • Local News
    • National News
    • International News
    • Sports News
    • Education News
  • Columns
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Life Lessons with Alex Gee
  • Events
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Lifestyle
  • Classifieds
  • Community
    • Middle Spread
  • Milwaukee

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Local Business is Weathering the Storm of Inflation

August 20, 2022

By Karen Stokes

Jason Alston, owner of Heaven’s Table BBQ on North Avenue (Photo/Jason Alston)

Businesses are facing some significant financial storms because of the high inflation numbers plus the ominous cloud of COVID-19 continues to hover overhead.

Jason Alston, owner of Heavens Table BBQ, 5507 W North Avenue used various strategies to weather the storm to keep his business afloat.

At Heaven’s Table BBQ you can find a variety of menu items that includes a variety of smoked meats like brisket, ribs, pulled pork, excellent pastrami and sausage, along with wings, sandwiches and sides.

“I want to start off and say COVID-19 was the first supposed disaster and the thing with business is you always have to be ready for adjustments. I learned back in culinary school when it comes to the restaurant industry even when it’s not inflation you still have prices that fluctuate up and down,” said Alston.

Alston says that the restaurant business is a whole different animal.

Alston has a passion for cooking and has been cooking professionally for the last 13 years with education from MATC culinary, to Cardinal Stritch to Marquette, he was well trained and ready for the challenge.

Heavens Table BBQ, offers the best meats including ribs, pastrami, brisket and sausage. (Photo by Earl Stokes)

Many businesses are also struggling with inflation. Raw materials and finished goods are more expensive and workers are demanding higher pay. Owners have been forced to raise prices or cut back on some services.

“I had to raise my prices a couple of times with my product and my customers were not too happy,” Alston said. “I also have to accommodate them too so having to raise the prices I made my sides bigger, you have to justify the price increase.”

“Every industry is impacted a little differently from inflation that’s a general blank statement but overall there’s rising costs of materials, costs of goods, inventory can be affected,” said Jason Engledow, Business Banking Area Manager, JPMorgan Chase.

“I reached out to JP Morgan Chase for a PPP Loan when it was available. I also received a credit card. Chase offers a lot of help with conversation and would consistently ask what I needed help with,” Alston said. “They’ve truly been helpful and they’re the first bank I worked with and actually haven’t had to look anywhere else for my business needs.”

JPMorgan Chase serves a variety of clients from restaurants to industrial to manufacturing to professional services.

Jason Engledow, Business Banking Area
Manager, JPMorgan Chase. (Photo/JPMorgan Chase)

Engledow offers tips that businesses can mitigate inflationary risks, look at their excess cash flow, and keep a reserve to weather the storm. Reach out to a financial advisor on how to manage their debt and how to manage vendor relationships. Focus on operations and the relationships they have with their employees and their customers.

JPMorgan Chase has been constantly investing in people and technology in the communities that they serve.

“One thing I’m so proud of is that sometime in 2023 we’re going to invest in a mentorship program,” Engledow said. “We have peer to peer free consulting to educate on business plans, coaching and tools.”

“We want to do everything we can from Chase’s standpoint to really focus on Black entrepreneurs and how critical a role that they play, the economic role of the community. This is going to be a unique program we’ve launched in other cities and have had a lot of success. I’m very excited it’s coming to our market in Milwaukee sometime in 2023,” Engledow said.

For more information go to jpmorganchase.com.

Remarkably some businesses have demonstrated the ability to wade through the pandemic and inflation. Businesses will have to remain attentive to keep their business afloat.
An important piece of advice from Alston, “Don’t let the circumstances right now discourage you, these things happen. Whatever your dreams and passions are, keep following them.”

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Popular Interests In This Article: Heavens Table BBQ, Jason Alston, Jason Engeldow, JPMorgan Chase, Karen Stokes

Read More - Related Articles

  • UW–Oshkosh Renames Multicultural Center to Honor Dr. Dorian Boyland
  • Wisconsin Senate Passes Bill to Extend Medicaid Coverage for New Mothers
  • Milwaukee News Company Secures Partnership with Amazon
  • Milwaukee County Transit System Hits the Runway Celebrating 414 Day
  • Milwaukee’s Fresh Coast Jazz Festival Blends World-Class Talent and Community Impact


Connect With Us

Become Our Fan On Facebook
Find Us On Facebook


Follow Us On Twitter
Follow Us On Twitter

Editorials

Karma Chavez
Amanda Zhang
Julianne Malveaux
Benjamin Chavis
George Curry

Journalists

Jacklin Bolduan
Brianna Rae
Aarushi Agni
Rob Franklin
Claire Miller

Topics

Brown Girl Green $
Young Gifted & Black
Universally Speaking
Ask Progress
Civil Rights

Topics

Police Shooting
Police Brutality
Black Lives Matter
NAACP
Racism

Politicians

Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
Gwen Moore
Paul Soglin
Scott Walker

Contact Us

Phone:
414-449-4860

Copyright © 2025 Courier Communications. All Rights Reserved.
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.