LINCOLN, Calif.—As one of Northern California’s rapidly growing suburban communities, the city of Lincoln still relies on its mom-and-pop businesses for economic strength.
Many of these small, often family-owned businesses focus on local markets and primarily source their products and supplies from the surrounding community.
Tom Indrieri, the CEO of the Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce, considers this to be a positive aspect of the current import tariff environment.
Sometimes, smaller is not only better, he said, but also potentially tariff-proof.
None of the chamber’s approximately 450 member businesses have voiced complaints about President Donald Trump’s import tariffs, he noted.
Growing Pains
Lincoln, located in Placer County, had a population of 51,629 in 2023, representing a growth of nearly 3 percent from the previous year.
From 2022 to 2023, the median property value increased by almost 6 percent, reaching about $628,000. The median household income during this time was $108,108.
Despite experiencing rapid residential growth since 2003, the city has managed to retain much of its traditional family-friendly charm.
One of the larger companies in the city, Gladding McBean, which boasts some of the world’s richest clay reserves, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary producing terracotta, clay pipes, and tile products.
The historic district along Lincoln Boulevard features many small gift and antique shops, as well as restaurants like Hops and Hogs Country Smokehouse.
Phil Woodman started the business around six months ago, providing locally sourced food and microbrews.
“On the weekends, it’s great. On the weekdays, it’s kind of slow. Lincoln’s that kind of town,” Woodman said.
Woodman is hopeful that his business will remain insulated from the broader effects of the tariffs, as he has nothing to export.
“I don’t know how it affects other things that I buy. I haven’t felt that yet. I’m hoping no, but we'll see,” he told The Epoch Times.
“I would think that a city like this that makes a lot of its own stuff would probably fare better under tariffs but then again, we buy as much locally as we can.”
Woodman said that it’s not the import tariffs causing him concern. It’s the state regulations and domestic inflation in product prices—such as eggs—that could impact his business the most.
“It’s never been the tariffs that affect me. It’s the state regulations. It’s always been the regulations or gas prices, one or the other,” he said. “This is how the food industry works as far as the middleman and distribution. As soon as the gas prices go up, you start getting surcharges.”
The last thing customers want to see is higher menu prices, Woodman said.
“They know the cost of eggs went up, but breakfast better cost the same as it always has. It’s kind of that mentality. So, as things rise, it’s hard for restaurant owners to adjust,” he said.
Gold Shines Despite Tariffs
A few storefronts away from Hops and Hogs Country Smokehouse is Lincoln Gold & Coin.Jim D’Ambrosio has been the owner for the past 11 years and suspects that gold and silver will outperform in a tariff environment.
“I don’t know if the tariffs are going to be the greatest thing for the world economy, but we just have to wait and see how it plays out,” D’Ambrosio said.
“I was predicting $4,000 [per gold ounce] by the end of the year because it was going up at a pretty good rate. I think we still could see $4,000 by the end of the year.”
Gold recently reached a historic milestone of over $3,100 per ounce before correcting to below $3,000.
Ralph Colunga, the chairman of Lincoln’s annual Rods and Relics Car Show, noted that tourism and community events are essential to the local economy.
It remains to be seen whether Trump’s imposition of import tariffs was the correct course of action, he said.
“I think it’s more of a negotiation tactic,” Colunga said. “But I definitely think Trump is a good businessman—whether you like the way he approaches things or not. I think you have to give it some time to see what’s going to happen.”
Indrieri used to construct large steel barbecues for his catering business. It eventually became too expensive to continue.
He said it wasn’t tariffs that caused the price of steel to rise from $190 per sheet to $450; it was inflation over the past several years.
“So I stopped building barbecues,” he said.
Indrieri said that Lincoln’s wealth of small local businesses helped redefine shopping during a global trade war.
“We have some amazing wines [produced] right here. I mean, there’s three or four wineries out here that are just tops, gold medal,” Indrieri said. “There’s also that optimism out there, saying, you know what? We are tired of [unfair trade practices], we can compete.”
