Mar 24, 2008

South Florida businesses feel the recession bluesBy Douglas HanksMiamiHerald.com

For a peek inside an economic slowdown, step into downtown Miami’s Burrito Express and look for sandwich bags and tinfoil.

“They’re bringing their own lunch,” cook John Sierra said as he stood by an idle grill. “They’re not spending the money. People will come in, ask for a drink and eat their own lunch.”

With sales down for the year, Sierra has watched his parents’ restaurant suffer through an economic slowdown punishing businesses throughout South Florida.

To measure the fallout, Business Monday recently dispatched eight reporters to survey 151 shops, restaurants and salons on how their sales are shaping up this year.

The results: a broad consensus that South Floridians are cutting back on spending and that tourist dollars aren’t making up the difference.

“We’re a high-ticket item,” said Kirsten Parker, the owner of the Native Vision Galleries on Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard. “And that’s the first thing to get impacted when the economy isn’t going well.”

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