Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, downtown Durham has seen a significant loss of businesses. According to Downtown Durham Inc, 82 businesses have closed, with some relocating and others shutting down permanently. The CEO of Downtown Durham Inc, Dorian Bolden, expressed pride in the legacy of Beyu Caffe but was devastated by its closure in downtown.
Bolden mentioned that walking through downtown during the day can feel like a ghost town due to the lack of foot traffic. The combination of remote work becoming more common, expensive parking for employees, and issues with development construction have all contributed to the challenging situation for businesses in downtown Durham.
The high cost of parking was cited as a significant problem by Andrew Catlin, who has worked at Beyu Caffe for years. With the rising costs and long hours of work, employees like Catlin are feeling the financial strain. Bolden made the difficult decision to close the downtown Beyu Caffe location while keeping other locations open to adapt to the changing market conditions.
In response to these challenges faced by downtown businesses, a group of owners led by Downtown Durham Inc President Nicole Thompson brought their concerns to the Durham City Council. Thompson emphasized the impact of construction sites on businesses, including difficulties with access, deliveries, utilities, and waste management. She called for renewed support and partnership from the city to address these issues and help businesses thrive in downtown Durham.
The closing of 82 businesses in downtown Durham has left many empty storefronts and reduced foot traffic in the area. While some businesses have relocated or adapted their operations online, others have shut down permanently due to factors such as high costs and limited accessibility.
Dorian Bolden expressed his pride in Beyu Caffe’s legacy but was devastated by its closure due to these challenges facing business owners in downtown Durham.
A group of business owners led by Nicole Thompson brought their concerns about construction sites impacting foot traffic and accessibility to deliveries and utilities on Wednesday evening at a meeting with members of the Durham City Council.
Andrew Catlin shared his experience working at Beyu Caffe where he felt overwhelmed by high parking costs and long hours that put financial pressure on him.
The council is now considering ways to support local business owners in adapting to changing market conditions while addressing concerns about development construction that may impact foot traffic and profitability for small businesses.
