TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The 2026 legislative session will be in full swing Tuesday, and local businesses are looking forward to the boost amid a typically slow January.
“It is enormous for the local economy,” Owner of Hayward House Ashley Chaney said. “When people from Miami, Orlando, Tampa – these larger metropolitan areas – are coming into Tallahassee, they’re coming and they’re spending money.”
Chaney said it can be difficult for local businesses to thrive during January, but she’s grateful for the influx of people during the next couple of months.
“We have over 60 people on staff here at Hayward House, and when the legislature is in, we are able to provide more shifts, and that goes directly back to helping them feed their families,” Chaney said.
She pointed out that visitors to the capital city are spending money in a variety of industries, boosting the overall economic value of the area.
“They’re not just spending money downtown,” Chaney said. “They’re spending money at all the different restaurants around town. They’re spending money at the hotels. They’re ordering rideshare companies to drive them around. There’s parties and different coffee shops.”
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In Midtown, the owners of Lemon & Thyme are also anticipating the crowd.
“During session, it’s one of our biggest seasons, absolutely,” Co-owner Kate Chase said. “A lot of business is done off of word-of-mouth, and when people come into town and they hear about us, it’s just awesome that we have new people coming in all the time to share what our place is all about.”
Chaney said when people support one local business, they end up supporting several local businesses indirectly.
“We are able to buy more seafood from our local seafood provider. We’re able to buy more produce from our local produce provider, and that money goes straight back into the city of Tallahassee,” she said. “That’s something that is really important about shopping local and eating at local restaurants – it stays in the community.”
Many lawmakers were already seen throughout the downtown area on Monday. Session officially kicks off on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
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