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 Main St. businesses maintain a positive outlook this fall in spite of weak economy. Tyler Macy/Argonaut
In an election year plagued by economic downturn, the crisis on Wall Street is affecting Main Street in Moscow.
La Casa Lopez, a Mexican restaurant downtown, looks to the future and the upcoming election with a sense of optimism.
“We can only get squeezed so much,” said Felix Lopez, the owner. “Things are going to get better. We’ve seen down times in the past, and we’ve always managed to survive.”
“Usually, the business fluctuates depending on when students are in town and what part of the semester it is,” he said. “For example, during finals week and on the breaks, the business decreases.”
That has been the trend during most of the seven years that Lopez has owned the restaurant. It’s only changed in the past six months.
“Now the business comes in bursts,” Lopez said. “Lots of people come in at once, and then it will be nearly empty for a while.”
Lopez looks to November’s presidential election with a sense of optimism. He thinks it might set the economy back on track.
“Americans are fighters, not quitters,” Lopez said. “It’s only a matter of time before things get better.”
Bob Greene, owner of BookPeople downtown, has also experienced a slowdown in sales.
“Fall and election years are always slow for Moscow,” Greene said. “People are insecure during election years and don’t want to spend money.”
Greene has noticed more people coming into his store, but they buy less.
“The election isn’t the answer,” Greene said, in reference to the downturn in the economy. “It’s the fact that we have an economy based on debt. The election will get something going, but will it solve everything? Probably not.”
Greene said he believes if change is going to occur, it has to start with tax structure and the government’s role in the economy.
“This is socialism for rich gamblers, while we don’t have health care for little kids,” Greene said. “I’m always optimistic about the future. I’m just not optimistic about the short-term political leadership we have.”
Greene said he believes people need to be more active in local government, and they need to do more than vote every four years. He also said the current leaders have driven the country into the ground.
Other local businesses in downtown Moscow have noticed the downturn as well.
“There’s definitely a slow down in sales,” said David Wilder, owner of The Natural Abode, a store on Main Street that sells green products. “Most retailers are feeling that.”
Wilder opened his doors three and a half years ago and has never been more worried about his business than he is right now. He said he experienced the worst slow down in sales during September, the same time that many national banks failed.
“We’re starting to see a pick up in sales,” Wilder said.
The holiday season, traditionally the biggest time of the year for retail stores, is right around the corner, which might explain the gradual increase from the low point Wilder hit in September.
Some stores on Main Street are excited for the future, such as Marco Polo, a boutique store that offers several one-of-a-kind artifacts from various locations around the world.
“We’re hoping for a good Christmas,” said Chris Dahlin, the owner of Marco Polo.
Dahlin has remained positive as well. He said he has a large shipment of items coming from India that he plans to feature during the Holiday season.
“As far as this town goes, Marco Polo is one-of-a-kind,” said Elsie Sakuma, who works at Marco Polo. “With Christmas coming and reasonable prices, I’m optimistic that people will come in.”
Some businesses on Main Street haven’t noticed a change at all.
“Everything is doing really well,” said Mark Howell, an employee at the Moscow Food Co-op.
Howell said he hasn’t noticed any fluctuation during the year he has worked there. The sense of community in Moscow attracted Howell from St. Louis. With everything that’s going on at the national level, Howell said he thinks communities and local businesses are more important than ever.
“In Moscow, we’re seeing a move to a more locally-oriented economy,” Howell said. “The Co-op has been here for 35 years. Very few Co-ops have been around that long.”
While many businesses on Main Street think times are getting tough, they still have confidence in the future, a future where instead of downturn, there is widespread prosperity.
“I think that the economy will get better,” said Ashley Rich, one of the owners of the Sisters’ Brew Coffee Shop. “People are being safe and not spending as much just in case, but things will get better.”
Rich has noticed a decrease in the sales of pastries and food, but hot drinks and smoothies are selling as well as ever.
“People still like to relax and get coffee,” Rich said.
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