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Some businesses still waiting for normalcy following reopening

Posted at 9:31 PM, Aug 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-23 02:14:33-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — While the doors of many businesses have returned to being open, some say the foot traffic that they depend on has still not returned.

Sambalatte owner Luiz Olivera is still trying to bounce back amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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“We saw the traffic drop just like that,” says Olivera.

The coffee shop stayed open to mobile orders during some of the stay-at-home directives and they reopened their doors to customers being inside weeks ago.

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Normal foot traffic is down about 30 to 40% there.

“Business people that we used to see here three, four times a week, now I only seem them once or twice a week,” says Olivera.

Zenreachused data to forecast when retail businesses would return to seeing normal foot traffic.

They predicted that return would happen Sept. 9, but now they're seeing a reverse effect.

Zenreach is now forecasting those businesses to only reach 55% of normal foot traffic by the end of 2020.

However, the study found some states including New York, Illinois and Washington may reach normal levels as soon as December.

“No one has seen any sign of recovery until next year,” says Olivera.

The trickle effect of a lack of business can lead to permanent changes, which can be a worst-case scenario for big chains and small businesses.

For commercial tenancies and mortgages, landlords and lenders can again charge late fees, initiate lockouts, or start eviction actions for non-payment of rent or foreclosure proceedings beginning July 1.

“If they are big, and they are down, how about us,” says Olivera.

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