All over Old Town Auburn, signs for storewide sales and vacant buildings can be seen as store owners close their doors for good. Auburn Mayor Sean Labbe told KCRA 3 that the closures are a direct result of inflation, as fewer people support local businesses and instead shop at big box stores. That’s what he said. “Cities in general get hit by these waves. The economy is very tough and it’s really hurting a lot of local businesses. It’s the family economy that’s struggling to put food on the table because prices have gone up.” Mr. Labbe said. This statement is backed up by longtime gallery owner and artist Frank Aldous. He said if his business had relied solely on Auburn foot traffic, it probably would have already closed. “I found a whole new market by just selling on the Internet, but if I were a foot traffic type retailer, I would have gone out of business,” Aldous said. He attributes the gallery’s success to his reform efforts. At least half of Aldous’ business is done out of state. Labbe said the company has hired a consultant as part of its plan to help stay open as four businesses in Old Town close. Another project includes a traffic study off Interstate 80 into downtown Auburn. “Earlier this year, we noticed that this was happening a little bit, and we tried to address it as quickly as possible. In fact, the consultant, he just started two weeks ago,” Labbe said. The consultant plans to meet with Old Town and business owners in downtown Auburn next week to find solutions and work to revitalize the area. See more of California’s Top His Stories here | Download the app.
Signs for storewide sales and vacant buildings can be seen around Old Town Auburn as business owners close their doors for good.
Auburn Mayor Sean Labbe told KCRA 3 that the closures are a direct result of inflation, in addition to fewer people supporting local businesses and shopping at big box stores instead. Told.
“It seems like the city in general is going through these waves. The economy is really tough, a lot of local businesses are really hurting. And then just the kitchen economy where people are struggling to put food on the table because prices have gone down. It’s been a big boost,” Labé said.
This statement is backed up by longtime gallery owner and artist Frank Aldous. Aldous said if his business had relied solely on Auburn foot traffic, it probably would have already closed.
“I was just selling on the Internet and found a whole new market. But if I were a retailer like that and relied on foot traffic, I would have gone out of business,” Ordaz said. Told.
He attributed the gallery’s success to the reinvention efforts he made.
At least half of Ordaz’s business is done out of state.
Labbe said the consultants have been brought in as part of a plan to help businesses stay open as four businesses close in the city’s Old Town.
Another project includes a traffic study to help people get off Interstate 80 and into downtown Auburn.
“We saw this kind of thing happening little by little at the beginning of the year, and we tried to get ahead of it as quickly as possible. In fact, she just started two weeks ago.” said Mr. Labbe.
The consultant is expected to return next week to meet with business owners in Old Town and Downtown Auburn to help find solutions and revitalize the area.
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