Sniper killings take toll of Washington business
The recent rash of sniper killings around Washington, DC, have been a blow to restaurant and hotel business in the area.
However, with people fearful to venture out of their homes and offices, take-away sales are up.
The 70-seat Giuseppe's restaurant in Rockville, Maryland, just minutes from the locations of some of the attacks, reported a 40% drop-off in business during the week after the first shooting.
Owner Scott Feldman said that business had improved slightly but still was "not even close to normal". He added: "Our suppliers tell us all the businesses are down, in line with us." Take-away sales had risen but not enough to compensate for the drop-off, said Feldman.
Richard Baran, owner of Takeout Taxi, which delivers take-away food from restaurants in the Maryland and north DC area, said his business was up by 15% to 20%.
Average hotel occupancy in the Washington, DC, area was about 80% last week, against 85% in October 2000, according to the Washington, DC Convention and Tourism Corporation.
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 24-30 October 2002