DELAND, Fla. – Downtown DeLand is sounding the alarm. Several high-profile shops and restaurants have closed in recent weeks, and business owners say they are struggling to keep their doors open.
About a half-dozen businesses have shuttered in the last month. Some shop owners estimate foot traffic is down nearly 50% this summer compared to previous years.
Taylor Bass, a local business owner, says a combination of seasonal slowdown and mounting costs could be to blame.
“Summer is hard for us in general, this summer is just a sandwich of hard and that’s why I think you’re seeing a lot of businesses that have already been trying to hold on by a string and then summer hit and it was just over,” Bass said.
Rising rent prices, higher costs of goods and products, and increased wages are all adding pressure. Bass says balancing those costs while keeping customers happy is a constant challenge.
“We have to provide livable wages for our people but we also have to provide a product that’s one, good, two consistent and three affordable for what we’re serving,” Bass said.
One notable shift in downtown DeLand’s business landscape is the rise of tattoo shops. In 2023, the city changed its ordinances to allow tattoo shops in the downtown district — since then, about seven have opened downtown. But even those newer businesses say they are feeling the strain.
Brittany Arizona, owner of Alter Tattoo shop, says the influx of tattoo studios has drawn mixed reactions from the community — but she believes they bring value to the area in a time of need.
“I think there are some people that are kind of bummed that there’s another tattoo shop and I get it because there’s so many but at the same time like I think it brings a lot of people to DeLand, I have clients from out of town,” Arizona said.
Stephanie Mullins with the Mainstreet DeLand Association says the organization is working with property owners to be selective about what types of businesses fill the empty storefronts — with a focus on driving foot traffic.
“We can work with our property owners to try to help them bring in the right kinds of businesses that are going to bring foot traffic,” Mullins said.
Mullins notes the vacancy rate is still relatively low despite recent closures.
“Up until recently we were about 98 percent occupied,” Mullins said.
She added that about 80% of the buildings downtown are locally owned or have local ties, giving the association direct lines of communication with property owners as they work to bring in new tenants. The goal, she says, is to move quickly — before more businesses are forced to close.