ORLANDO, Fla. — Rising costs, fewer people. Some restaurants in downtown Orlando are buckling under the changing economy.
While many have closed, others are holding on.
Workers at Great Harvest Bakery on Lake Avenue were busy banging out breakfast this week, thanks to a couple of large catering orders.
Owner Evan Delaney said that “Everything Hala,” “Jalapeno Sourdough” and a specialty whole grain seed bread are the most popular items on the menu.
Local favorites made fresh in-house every day.
Elizabeth Preston-Hughes lives downtown and often comes in to grab a bite.
“They make their own flour. They make their own breads. So, what you’re getting is fresh,” said Preston-Hughes. “And that’s important to me. And I continue to give them my business.”
But despite a steady stream of regulars, Delaney admitted business is down.
“Maybe there is just some overall macro sense that downtown Orlando is dying and, you know, disappearing a little bit,” he said.
Delaney said foot traffic dipped 10 – 15% in the past year.
“So maybe I think people don’t really want to go downtown, thus not being able to discover great places like ours,” he said.
Ruslana Sigalova, a regular customer, agreed.
“Too much going on and too crowded. I guess it’s fine for downtown. It’s supposed to be fun and just where people go, but I don’t feel safe there,” Sigalova said.
However, Orlando District 5 Commissioner Shan Rose disagreed. Rose said that crime is down in her district.
“This is the safest that downtown Orlando has been in a really long time, and the data speaks for itself. Crime is at its lowest in the District 5 downtown. It’s the lowest that we’ve ever seen,” Rose said.
The Orlando Police Department’s data confirms her claim with declining rates in shootings, burglaries and violent crimes over the last three years. Despite encouraging trends, Rose admits more needs to be done.
“We will continue to invest and reinvest and redevelop downtown so that everyone knows it truly is the place for everyone to live, work and play,” Rose said.
In the meantime, Delaney said he expanded his catering program, marketing to downtown businesses to boost sales.
“Law firms, accounting firms, doctors’ offices, hospitals, etc., trying to expand our catering to stave off any retail traffic that’s not coming in the door,” Delaney said.
A strategy, Delaney believes, is working.
“Hopefully, people respond to it and hopefully it helps keep us sustaining for another four or five and really 20 years,” he said.
Delaney said limited parking, construction and street closures are also affecting downtown businesses. As for redeveloping downtown, Rose did not give specifics.