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PEORIA (25 NEWS) - As the community prepares for the omicron variant, downtown Peoria restaurant owners say business is still down as much as 40% because the business crowd hasn’t come back yet.
Businesses need those customers while at the same time they continue to face staffing shortages and supply chain problems experienced nationwide.
“There’s usually 20,000 people in downtown Peoria working and in the Warehouse District, and they’re not there yet. They’re still not back,” said Kelleher’s owner Pat Sullivan.
Caterpillar, the courthouse, and hospitals still have many employees working from home.
Joe Slyman, owner of Adams Street Cafe for 37 years, is ready to sell after trying to reopen, but also facing uncertainty over the omicron variant.
“I’m ready to pass the baton, and it’s a great opportunity for someone to start a business,” said Slyman.
Slyman said he remains optimistic business will come back, not for him, but for future owners.
The pandemic has heavily damaged other businesses like “Gone Axe Throwing” which depends on team building and corporate groups.
“Any time there’s any news of any spikes, any new variants with COVID, it definitely impacts the amount of people that are coming out and booking,” said co-owner Sara Ruder.
Business owners are cautiously optimistic about the future, but returning to pre-pandemic levels might not occur, said Eliott Lambdin, manager of Bearded Owl Brewing.
“I think we’re all pretty hopeful that business will keep trending in the right direction, and we’re seeing that,” said Lambdin.
“I don’t know if it will ever get back to normal. I don’t know if we know what that is anymore.”
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Downtown Peoria restaurants yearn for the business crowd again as omicron clouds future - HOI ABC
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