Who makes 35$ an hour or even 25$? Most of the employees in the stores, make minimum wage or just a little better. Some of the managers make  more than that (minimum wage) but  no where near the figure you are stating. The independent owners have to pay the rent, (which is high), pay the skeleton staff  buy stock,  pay bills, before they pay themselves! Sometimes just to hear - Oh it's cheaper across the boarder, or at Cosco, visitors state "Oh, your taxes are high."  so they don't buy. It is not easy to have your own business and the new owners aren't making it easier.