SEATTLE -- While new numbers indicate holiday shopping in Downtown Seattle is making a recovery, many business owners said they’re still not totally at ease because of a spike in crime.
According to the Downtown Seattle Association, holiday foot traffic is 85% of what it was pre-pandemic, meaning mom and pop shops are ending 2022 on cautious, yet confusing note.
“We either need to shut down permanently and not worry about it, or we need to reopen and see what we can do,” said Olga Sagan, who closed Piroshky Piroshky 10 months ago.
With the holidays here, Sagan said says she’s decided to reopen, all to inspire other businesses to come to do the same.
“As a fabric of that community, it’s not the financial decision to reopen, but it’s more of a moral decision to reopen,” she told KIRO 7.
At Fossil and Stone, owner Kathy Lee agreed.
“There’s gonna need to be some courageous businesses to move in, to open their doors, to withstand what’s happening here,” she noted.
Lee’s shop was vandalized and robbed three times earlier this year, including when a man stole a fossilized mammoth tusk right off her shelves.
“You can hear the sirens going off now, and so it’s still not a comfortable place where I can just worry about the business,” Lee said.
Yet as holiday spending spikes, local shoppers told KIRO 7 that now is the time to help out struggling businesses.
“I love coming downtown, and we must cherish our downtown and bring it all the way back,” said shopper Ellen McCain.
“There’s changes happening where I feel more safe,” added shopper Kelonda Petty. “I feel like you can see some of the differences coming on.”
Holiday season 2022: not yet “normal,” but better than at any point since the pandemic began.
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