Above the Crust Pizza, in northwest Las Vegas, has repeatedly had customers leave with its cheese shaker jars, owner and operator Nicholas Barkin says. He told KTNV the shop has lost five jars to five different people, with the most recent incident on Sunday.
In its report, KTNV said Barkin described the thefts as becoming more frequent: they once happened only once or twice a year, but he has had to replace the shakers a couple of times this year. Because the jars are sold in packs, replacing one means buying more than the shop immediately needs.
A Small Theft With a Real Cost
Barkin said the losses matter to a business with eight employees and make it harder to pay his staff. He also told KTNV he does not plan to report the thefts to police.
The shakers are not the only way customers can season their pizza: Barkin said they can ask for free packets of parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, oregano and garlic at checkout.
A Wider Cost Picture
The thefts come amid broader cost increases for Nevada restaurants. KTNV reported that overall expenses have risen approximately 36 percent since 2019, while food costs have climbed about 35 percent over the same period, according to its report. Those statewide figures provide context, but do not establish the specific financial impact on Above the Crust Pizza.
Restaurant margins in context
The National Restaurant Association says a typical independent restaurant had a pre-tax profit margin of roughly 5 percent before the pandemic, and 42 percent of restaurant operators said their restaurant was not profitable in 2025. These national industry figures illustrate cost pressures, but do not show whether Above the Crust Pizza is profitable or establish its own margins.
As a separate policy example, EUR-Lex says restrictions scheduled from 2030 under EU Regulation (EU) 2025/40 include single-use plastic packaging for individual portions of condiments. That is EU policy context, not a rule reported as applying to the Las Vegas shop.
Barkin said he loves pizza and bringing pizza and community together, and hopes customers will do the right thing in the future.
