NEW YORK — Zabar’s, the venerable Upper West Side food store here, has been adding a 1.8% surcharge to purchases in an effort to defray — and call attention to — its increased energy costs, according to a New York Times report this week. Eli Zabar, owner of the store, told the newspaper that the 1.8% charge was an “arbitrary number” that did not cover the increases of energy costs but instead reminds shoppers of expenses the store incurs for energy expended in refrigeration and coffee roasting. Zabar added his intention was to “begin dialogue” about energy costs and was considering dropping the charge, which was instituted earlier this month.
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