Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, downtown Durham has seen the closure of 82 businesses, with some relocating. This is according to Dorian Bolden, CEO of Downtown Durham Inc. One such business that closed its downtown location is Beyu Caffe, leaving Bolden feeling proud of its legacy but devastated about the closure. He described downtown as a ghost town during the day in the middle of the week due to a lack of foot traffic.
Bolden attributed Beyu Caffe’s closure to several factors such as the rise of remote work, high parking costs for employees, and issues with development construction. He expressed concern about the city not implementing policies to support small businesses, which could impact downtown’s unique character. While Beyu Caffe closed its downtown location, Bolden mentioned that other locations would remain open.
One employee at Beyu Caffe, Andrew Catlin, highlighted an issue that many business owners in downtown Durham face: high parking costs for those working long hours at Beyu Caffe. This sentiment was shared by other business owners in downtown Durham who have taken their concerns to the Durham City Council. Led by Downtown Durham Inc President Nicole Thompson, this group is seeking renewed support and partnership from city council members to address issues such as construction sites impacting access to work and waste management.
Thompson emphasized that development sites pose challenges to small businesses and residents when not regularly supervised or inspected by the city or county. The lack of oversight creates difficult conditions that make it almost impossible for businesses to operate successfully in downtown Durham. By highlighting these issues, Thompson and other business owners hope to work with city council members to find solutions that will support the downtown community and ensure its vibrant future.
In conclusion, while there are challenges facing small businesses in downtown Durham due to development projects and a lack of oversight from local authorities, there are also opportunities for growth and success if we can find ways to support these businesses through policy changes and partnerships with local organizations like Downtown Durham Inc.
