The hundreds of neighborhood mom and pop stores that sold shave ice have already been driven out of business by Walmart and other big box stores.  Walmart pays its average employee close to minimum wage.  As a result, the beneficiaries of Walmart's recent Thanksgiving charity drive to feed the hungry included its own employees.  Maintaining the current minimum wage means that homelessness will increase, as there are homeless families whose adult members are working, but are not making enough to pay rent. On the other hand, Costco has proven that it's possible for big box stores to pay much more, as it pays its average employee $20 an hour.  That should be the minimum expectation for all workers in the most prosperous country on earth.