DELAND, Fla. – Downtown DeLand businesses are adjusting hours, collaborating with neighbors and leaning on local support to weather a slower-than-average summer season.
The changes come after News 6 reported last week that small businesses across Central Florida, including those in DeLand, are experiencing a sluggish summer. The story sparked significant online reaction — and business owners say that feedback has already sparked new ideas.
Christa Yates, who has owned Ms. Preppy Pants in downtown DeLand for 10 years, says the slower season is nothing new — but this year feels different.
“We’re all working together to brainstorm to showcase just how great we are and take it to more people than just our locals because we want Orlando to come, we want Palm Coast to come — take those day trips,” Yates said.
Yates says the familiar summer slowdown hits when Stetson University lets out and snowbirds head home — but tighter consumer spending has made this summer harder than most. In response, some businesses are now opening on days they were traditionally closed, while others are extending their operating hours.
“We’re working together to show where if you can’t find it in my shop, go down to another shop or I’ll show you the shops I like to go to,” Yates said.
Last week’s report also highlighted several recent high-profile vacancies in the downtown corridor. News 6 found those closures happened for a variety of reasons. The MainStreet DeLand Association says the downtown occupancy rate has only dipped to about 96% and that it is actively working with landlords to fill the vacant spaces quickly.
City officials are also stepping in. Commissioner Richard Paiva says the city co-sponsors or coordinates events throughout the year specifically designed to draw foot traffic downtown.
“One of the things we do is DeLand cosponsors or coordinates 80 special events every year,” Paiva said.
Paiva says the city is concentrating many of those events in the summer months to give businesses a boost during the traditionally slow stretch — a move that’s being welcomed by shop owners.
“This is one of the reasons a lot of us have moved here — this community. The people here, the shops here, the walkability of our streets,” Yates said.