Locally owned stores in Imperial Valley Mall are struggling
El CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Despite being open many locally-owned stores in the imperial valley mall are still struggling to make ends meet.
Entering a mall used to mean smelling pretzels, hearing the shoppers' footsteps, rummaging of shopping bags, and seeing the people at the KIOSK asking you to stop to check out their products. Now the mall is empty. Most stores are closed and there only a few people walking around.
Martha Solano, says that her family-owned business does not have the same luxury as corporations to remain closed until the county is completely open.
“With the sales being down, I mean my mom was having trouble paying the house so then we had to all help each other out but with the sales being down and the economic problems have increased.”
She says her family has had this business for forty years they can’t just drop it and do something else.
“My mom and dad they’ve always been about dresses it’s not like they have that umm how do you call it energy or how do you say fortitude to go for example to the fields because that is one of the options to go to work, you know for them its just not an option," said Solano.
Awan owner of Imperial Body Jewelry and toys Outlet says he and his wife had to cut their employees just to make ends meet.
“I cut the employees because I didn’t of course they didn’t want to come I sent letters saying hey you want to come back and but thank god they didn’t come because I didn’t get the PPE but we are just her and we take care of the stores that's how we are doing it now,” said Awan.
The store owners are remaining hopeful because at the end of the day this is their bread and butter.
