Big Box retailers are in business to make maximum profits. They do this by providing value to their customers: giving them what they want at the lowest possible cost. By forcing them to pay higher wages, the Aldermen of Chicago are not allowing Big Box retailers to provide as much value to their customers and, in so doing, minimum wage increases get passed onto customers in various ways.
In an interview at Wal-Mart's Chicago office last week, Lewis said if the city council approved the bill, Wal-Mart would "put more time and effort in the suburbs," in particular focusing on those close to the city in order to draw shoppers across city lines.
If this comes to fruition, wage increases will get passed on to many consumers in the form of longer commute times.