ORLANDO, Fla. — A post on Hamburger Mary’s Facebook Page announced the business’ Church Street location will be closing after being in the heart downtown Orlando for 16 years.
The business cited changing times and slower foot traffic for the decision, and that is something that other business owners in the area say they have struggled with as well.
In response, city of Orlando officials say that despite those struggles, there have been recent business openings on Church Street, like Bao Spot — which is receiving funding support through the DTO restaurant program — and Birria 1983.
Helen So, owner of Nifty’s Korean BBQ and Ramen in downtown Orlando, says Hamburger Mary’s moving out of downtown Orlando is bad news.
“So, if that business moves out of here, the people who used to come here downtown go there and come visit us, might not come here,” she said.
So — who’s run a restaurant in the area for seven years — said paying the rent can be a struggle as it is.
She remembers the days when her restaurant stayed open until 9 p.m. about a year and a half ago, but those days are long gone. She said right now she’s spending her savings to keep her business open.
“Now, I close early and go home cause there’s nobody coming,” she said. “Businesses are leaving downtown because there’s no business.”
She said it’s expensive for customers to come downtown, and parking is a contributing factor.
She said she’s seen a trend of employees in downtown also working remotely, and thinks the city should get creative with incentives to help bring in more foot traffic like validating parking when people spend money in downtown retail and restaurants.
The city of Orlando responded to the concerns:
Our downtown development board/CRA continues to offer business assistance programs, including the new DTO restaurant program that is designed to attract new restaurants and encourage expansion of existing establishments by reimbursing costs associated with construction and rent. Earlier this month, City Council approved agreements to support Travel & Leisure moving its global headquarters to downtown. The company will bring more than 900 jobs downtown, with a plan to add more than 100 additional positions over the next five years.