Illustration by Rich Hauck
Callie Alvanitakis gave it her all.
For the past four years, the Harrisburg resident ran Deco Grab & Go, a snug café and sandwich shop located just across the street from the state Capitol Complex.
She fashioned an artsy, inviting décor, created a tasty menu, and worked long hours, but, ultimately, couldn’t overcome the forces arrayed against her.
“It’s been such a struggle,” she told me, just before shutting her doors for the final time last month. “I have to move on to something else, something more stable.”
Running a small business is always tough—few survive long-term. But, in downtown Harrisburg, it’s become even more challenging, as owners face the potential knockout punch of stubborn inflation, sky-high parking rates and a state workforce that has largely abandoned the city.
“I can’t continue on, given this work-from-home trend,” Alvanitakis said. “It may be more efficient and offer a better work/life balance, I get that. But state workers are hardly here anymore, so it’s become impossible for me.”
Without customers, even a well-run business can’t survive.
Historically, Harrisburg’s small businesses drew customers from three distinct groups: workers, visitors and residents.
A hundred years ago, the city’s economy was powered by heavy industry. When the steel mills and railroads collapsed, the growing state workforce helped fill the gap. But now, that labor force also has dissipated, leaving behind the moms and pops that once made their lunches, poured their beer and sold them everything from chewing gum to finely tailored suits.
Likewise, Harrisburg’s visiting population has been dinged. In-person business meetings have gone remote, meaning fewer hotel nights, catered lunches and expense-account meals. The Capitol Complex once crawled with long-term government contractors, but much of that work is now done somewhere else—Florida, India, who knows?
This leaves the city’s small businesses more dependent than ever on locals. In other words, it’s up to us, as a city, to ensure the survival of our own small businesses.
Are we up to the job? Regular readers of this column may not be surprised that I have a few ideas.
As residents, we can boost our commitment to patronizing our shops and restaurants. I’m almost hesitant to ask this, since residents already carry much of our city’s economy on their backs. On the other hand, I know people who reflexively jump in their cars and head off to the soulless suburban supermarket every time they need a loaf of bread, a carton of eggs or a bag of coffee. Meanwhile, there are wonderful alternatives, of even higher quality, right here in Harrisburg—in interesting, well-curated stores and stands that likely are run by your neighbors.
As businesses, we can be more proactive and collaborative. Our small business community has many strengths, but cooperation is not among them. As a small business owner myself, I get it—you’re so busy that it’s tough to see outside your own four walls. However, greater cooperation (events, cleanups, marketing, lobbying, etc.) and more community involvement and outreach would benefit everyone. Truly, we’re all in this together.
As a city, we should always keep our small businesses front of mind. Our elected officials, for instance, could make development easier, craft a robust economic development plan and take other measures to help small businesses. If I were an official, I would focus on infrastructure improvements and residential development since, without office workers, we need more people to live in and visit Harrisburg. More people equal more customers for our strapped, struggling small businesses. Recently, someone suggested to me that the city should have a point person for Harrisburg’s three main small business districts: downtown, Midtown and Allison Hill. I think that’s a great idea to help make the city more responsive to owners’ needs.
Harrisburg is a city of small business. With industry and offices in decline, shops, restaurants and other small businesses have become the driver of our local economy. We must do everything we can to help them survive and thrive.
Lawrance Binda is the publisher and editor of TheBurg.
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