It seems even Charlie’s Hamburgers in Folsom has felt the effect of rising beef prices, writes Erin McCarthy for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In January, Charlie’s Hamburgers, a nearly 90-year-old Delaware County institution, raised prices on its 2-ounce smash burgers by 10 to 15 cents.

Charlie’s meat costs have risen about “20 cents a pound, which doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but it adds up when you’re buying hundreds of pounds,” owner Timothy Blackburn said.

To their credit, though, Charlie’s Hamburgers have still kept the price of their cheeseburgers to under $4, thanks to high volume. 

The Zac’s Hamburgers Delaware County franchise is also feeling the pressure.

“My hamburger has gone up a dollar a pound in the past nine months,” said Pete Politarhos, owner of Zac’s Hamburgers. The fast food restaurant goes through about 1,000 pounds of hamburger meat a week.

“I’m steadfastly trying to hold my prices for my customers,” added Politarhos. His stores sell a 3-ounce cheeseburger for $3.79.

“I don’t know how much longer it’s going to last.”

The continued rise in beef prices is attributed in part to a cattle shortage and lingering effects of the pandemic.

Read more about how rising beef prices are impacting the sale of Delaware County burgers in The Philadelphia Inquirer.