Auburn small businesses feel pinch; 4 are closing amid a tough economy

Four Auburn businesses will close their doors in the next few weeks as small businesses report struggles with fewer shoppers. US Artisan Market, Typewriter + Moss, Auburn Aid Station and Lucky J's Pizza recently announced plans to close in the coming weeks, with Encore Music Center potentially closing if it cannot find an alternative location. "The truth is, the current economic climate has presented challenges that I simply cannot overcome," said Cleo Sanchez, owner of Typewriter + Moss in Old Town Auburn. "Like so many other small businesses and storefronts, Typewriter + Moss has felt the impact of these uncertain times." In an interview with the Auburn Journal, Sanchez said she and fellow Auburn small businesses have seen a decrease in foot traffic and sales. "I think a lot of people don't have disposable income; it's a struggle we all face," she said. "Without sales, we are unable to put groceries in our pantries or pay our bills." Sanchez is the only employee of her business and she admitted she hadn't been paying herself since December. She said she fears other businesses may be following suit and closing soon as well. "We aren't seeing the same numbers we were seeing two years ago," she said. "It's a little bittersweet." Sanchez was a true cheerleader for Old Town Auburn, sitting on the Old Town Auburn Business Association's board, going through the Leadership Auburn program and running The Exchange Sunday markets on Commercial Street. She said she will still be involved in The Exchange and can be found running Paint and Sip nights at Old Town Pizza and local wineries. "I felt so invested in our community, so it is hard to leave," she said. For Carolyn Hearn, owner of US Artisan Market, she and her family were toasting her final few days open on Lincoln Way in Downtown Auburn on Thursday. Her last day open is Sunday. "It's just so hard when everything is more expensive and there is just less spending money," she said. Hearn, who has been heavily involved in the Downtown Business Association, said she will continue operating her business through an online portal and shoppers may still find her at outdoor markets. She said she will still be involved in Friday Nights Out in Downtown Auburn. Hearn said she had seen a downtick in foot traffic at US Artisan Market and it was hard to continue paying employees when she wasn't nearly as busy as she has been in the past. "Honestly, after COVID, people just stopped trying to shop local," she said. Lori Tompkins, Downtown Auburn Business Association treasurer and 5 O'Clock Shadow owner, said finding employees to help run local shops is a difficulty many businesses are facing. "The expense of payroll with all the new rules, the sick time, the pay increases, it's just too hard," she said. "Unless you are working in your own store and can put in six to seven days a week, it's just not profitable. It's fun to do for a while, you can sustain it for a while, but it's hard to do it week in and week out." Tompkins understands the difficulty of having to close shop; she had to close her other business, Auburn 360, at the end of 2022. She had to change the business model of 5 O'Clock Shadow so stylists can rent the space and set their own hours in order to "survive" the changes in employment regulations. "People are spending money where they need to and not where they want to anymore," Tompkins said. "So if they can cut back on going to a boutique to see what new stuff they have, they will cut back." Tompkins said she has heard many restaurants are facing major slow-downs, and that brings less people to the area to shop. For Paulo Medina of Auburn Aid Station, his upcoming closure was due to payroll and sales. "It has been hard to find adequate employees; while we do have some great employees, they are far and few between," he said. "I think I have competition with online that is extremely difficult to overcome." Medina said he has created a community of local runners, attracting visitors from around the world to join in on one of his weekly runs. Medina said his business was successful during the city's big endurance weekends, but they just weren't frequent enough. Medina said one of the biggest impacts on his business was COVID, because it taught everyone how to shop online for what they needed. "I am sad that the business and the community I created are going," he said. "But it's bittersweet because I am excited that I no longer have this dread on my shoulders." In response to a struggling small business community, the city of Auburn has been working with a consultant for ideas to help make local small business more successful. Earlier this month, Michelle Reeves of Civilis Consulting met with small business owners, local business associations and commercial property owners to interview and find out what factors are causing the most issues. Reeves is scheduled to present her findings in a meeting May 29. "The cost of employment and the cost of materials and services are going up," said Jonathan Wright, Community and Economic Development Director for the city of Auburn. "It seems like people just don't have the extra money to spend and shop local." Wright said through the Reeves interviews, he discovered people were spending less at local businesses and coming in less frequently. "It's unfortunate that these businesses are going out," Wright said. "It's the struggle of a small business owner – you can only go so long with diminishing returns." Wright said the city hired Reeves after hearing from the local business districts the likelihood of closures coming. The city wanted to "make sure we provided everything we could." Tompkins said Reeves is sharp and feels positive her feedback for local businesses will be helpful, saying, "I think she will add value."