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Small businesses feel effects of government shutdown

Owners say a few weeks ago, it wasn’t clear if a decline in customers might just be the normal thing you see right after Christmas. Now they say it’s clear it’s a result of the government shutdown.

HOUSTON — Many small businesses in the shadow of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake are struggling.

Owners say a few weeks ago, it wasn’t clear if a decline in customers might just be the normal thing you see right after Christmas. Now they say it’s clear it’s a result of the government shutdown.

Family-owned NASA Flowers has been a staple in Webster for 30 years. Manager Rebecca Hadley says in recent days business has been “stale.”

Ordinarily, this is when Valentine’s Day orders would start to pick up. Usually, they’d have around 40 orders by now. Instead, they have three.

“Even our vendors are struggling to sell the flowers, because we can’t afford to buy them,” Hadley said.

Shops like hers rely on Valentine’s Day revenue. She feels badly things are currently so slow.

“People can’t or don’t want to spend money because they don’t have it," Hadley said.

In nearby Seabrook, the popular eatery Robinette & Company Catering is also finding fewer customers as the historic shutdown drags on.

“Right now, we’re actually having to cut back on our hours an on staff, because if we don’t have the revenue coming in, we can’t afford to have people here,” said manager Shannon Acton.

Last week, NASA canceled an event that her store-front was booked to cater. Many of her customers are NASA employees.

“We hope it resolves, because we miss seeing everyone,” Acton said.

A few doors down on Kirby Road in Seabrook, Dr. Ellen Fandry’s optometry office is also being affected.

She says many customers at her new office are furloughed, or considered an “essential” worker. That means they’re on the job at NASA but not getting paid.

“Obviously, we want to be busy and we want to be seeing patients, and we’re hoping things turn around soon,” Dr. Fandry said.

One sentiment all these business owners shared: “We just want things to go back to normal.”

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