Two local businesses are relying on your help to stay open

One of the shopping centers locally that has been hit hard by the pandemic is Meadows Shopping Center here in Terre Haute.

One store owner there says it has been a ghost town since the pandemic hit.

27th.

That's "next" weekend.

Many businesses are struggling right now.

That includes right here in the wabash valley.

As we told you at 5 o'clock..

The "u-s commerce department" said 100-thousand stores have permanetly closed, or have had pro-longed closures.

News 10's bri shackleford visited a couple of "local" stores today.

She has more how how the pandemic has affected their sales.

One of the shopping centers locally that has been hit hard by the pandemic is meadows shopping center here in terre haute.

One store owner there says it has been a ghost town since the pandemic hit.

Repeat botique is a consignment shop.

Owner laura gage will work with individuals to sell their stuff.

Both laura and the seller will get commission off of items that are sold.

But...with no one coming into the store..she hasn't seen many sales.

"normally i would say on an average day i probably get maybe 6 or 7 people.

That's from the time i open until the time i close."

Laura gage is worried about staying in business.

She says since the pandemic hit...the meadows mall has been nearly empty.

That meant her store hasn't seen a lot of customers.

"i was closed for two months and i think i opened around the first of june again.

Sales are so far down it's not even comparable to what i was doing before."

Gage says it's not just her store that's struggling.

With the recent closures of a lot of chains... she says many other small business owners are having to think about 'what will happen to them,' "the way i look at it i think of all these, the big businesses that are going out.

I mean just think of macy's, carson's, stein mart, im wondering about pennies, and then you think well how does that bode for the little guy."

She wants the community to shop local more.

Gage is hopeful that they won't have to close their doors.

"i've even put that on my facebook page.

You know, you've got to come out and support us or we're going to go down and i've been doing this for 23 years."

She says right now the fate of her store is uncertain... but she is hopeful that the community will make sure she's still serving her customers.

Gage says she's only accepting consignments by apointment only.

All items need to be washed before bringing them in.

Reporting live from the news room im bri shackelford...news 10.