All the local restaurants on the receipts have a cash price and cc price. My local bike shop does the same thing.
My memory (not great) is that gas stations started this. It is difficult to hide money at a gas-only station - so much comes in, the pumps do a good job of measuring what goes out and how much money should come it. If gas(cash) is missing, they are digging up the tanks!
(there are other ways to steal gas/cash at a gas station) I guess this is NJ oriented now - since we don't pump our own.
It is more the last 5ish (?) years that there is a separate price (or charge) for CC on the receipts at different shops.
Basically covering the cost of the fees plus a bit.
Now if you work at one of these places, did they stop removing the processing fees from the tip amount?
If I plan, I'll have cash in my pocket for something - most times i'm not carrying that much - like sub $50.
--on the business owner side
WIth cash, ya also have to trust the workers. A leak could quickly destroy the CC cost avoidance.
also it isn't just punishing the business.
Consider a 'tip pooling' restaurant. is the person serving a table turning in all the cash to the pool, especially if they see their service is rewarded at a higher rate.
I'd take a credit card now over a check next week any day.