Upwards of 14 businesses in Creston have closed their doors, changed locations, or changed owners in the past year.
Now, locals are concerned with the economic fluctuation.
“I don’t know where I’m going to get my coffee,” said one local Jeanette Stenhouse following the closure announcement of Fly in the Fibre.
However, Stenhouse is optimistic with the new businesses opening up shop in town.
“The new book store is fantastic. I haven’t been in the new soap store, but the pictures online look fantastic. I’m excited about Nutters opening. (There’s) so much happening.”
Local Signe Miller has called Creston home for the last 40 years, and says they’ve seen something like this before in the 80s.
“Things got a little bit tough here in town. But then we really bounced back and things got much better,” explained Miller.
She says the security along the downtown core led to more successful business ventures in town.
“Things really started to pick up and improve in that decade. And it’s been really improving ever since.”
Millers adds that, since the pandemic, the economic turn in the valley has left some business owners struggling.
“I know a couple of business owners that have said to me that dealing with the public has become much more difficult. People are much more aggressive and complaining, and they’re angry about everything. That makes it really hard to serve them.”
That’s not the only difficulty businesses face in Creston, says Miller.
“A lot of them are struggling to find adequate staffing. A couple of them have just run out of money. It’s just been slowly going downhill for months and they just can’t keep going financially. I just hope it turns around again as the economy starts to rebuild. I hope some of these people will come back and open businesses again in the future.”
In a smaller community like Creston, Miller says businesses that provide economic diversity are crucial.
“We’re always sorry to see businesses closed because we have less than a larger center. I know a lot of these business owners and their friends of mine, and I feel really bad for them.”
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