Minimum Wages

[bats]

The glaring exemption to me is stand-alone restaurants have to pay $20/hr while restaurants in a Walmart(stores over 15,000 sq ft) or airport do not.

Why are stand-alone restaurant workers special?

They aren't, but according to the legislature, some business models are. They put it in the findings and declarations section of the bill (AB 610):

(b) Restaurants that are operated in conjunction with larger enterprises such as airports, hotels, large event centers, theme parks, museums, gambling establishments, corporate campuses, and certain public lands, generally do not share the same characteristics as traditional fast food restaurants that are part of national fast food chains, because restaurants operated in conjunction with larger enterprises have distinct economics and a captive customer base, are often operated subject to concession or food service contracts, and have different employment structures.

[dogwalker]

Yes a $2 bag of chips will cost $7 at the airport. A $1 bottle of water is now $4-5 at the airport.