Ferguson store owners are still reportedly suffering from the aftermath of Michael Brown’s fatal shooting on Augist 9. The ongoing protests and riots have caused a number of problems from local businesses in the area. According to CBS-St. Louis , Ferguson store owners are now trying to stay afloat because they are currently facing a revenue drought. Several businesses have reported that business has decreased drastically because customers are “too scared” to shop in the area.
“We’ve lost $200 to $300 in business nightly, people are afraid to pick up in the night, after dark,” said Tammy Cao of the Hunan Chop Suey Chinese Restaurant. “People are too scared at night … I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
But, that’s not all. Many business owners have incurred cost for damages to their establishments as a result of riots. Cao also revealed the restaurant has spent more than $1,500 for out-of-pocket expenses, since the estimated damages weren’t expensive enough to file an insurance claim.
Zisser Tire & Auto also stated that they’ve also suffered due to the riots. Rioters reportedly “knocked out 90 percent of our windows, which are still boarded up. We’ve just been trying to go to work, business as usual – nobody wants to take the boards down until we see what happens. It’s more of the not knowing what’s going to happen next.”
However, customers aren’t the only ones afraid to be in the area. A number of business owners have also expressed fear about remaining in the area. Rokhaya Biteye, owner of Daba African Hair Braiding revealed she’s now earning less than $100 a week. Then, to make matters worse, she also stated that she has no insurance to help with the massive void.
“I feel scared about my business,” Biteye told Reuters .
So how will Ferguson store owners fare for the holiday season? They’re just “going to wait and see.”
[Image via Wikimedia Commons]
