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Rob Kingsbury of Artfully Chocolate/Kingsbury Confections says his business is ‘feeling a huge economic impact’ from the ongoing financial crisis. (Blade photo by James Worsdale)
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HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: AMY CAVANAUGH COMMENTS
 
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been unwilling to adjust menu prices.
“Business has gone down dramatically in the last few weeks,” he said. “But we’ve decided not to change prices and we’re going to keep offering specials so people will come in.”
Guler noted that when the House of Representatives rejected the first bailout plan in September, Jack’s was “totally empty,” but after the Senate and House backed a revised plan, the restaurant was “packed,” showing that “people are just reacting to the news.”
But not everyone is hurting. A manager at Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse said the restaurant hasn’t seen a drop in business.
“We’re actually getting busier,” said Leigh Ann Hendricks, the restaurant manager. “There’s always a summer slump, but we did better this summer than in previous summers.”
Hendricks said that while the restaurant recently had a couple slow nights, particularly on the nights of the debates, “we haven’t really been affected by this.”
She attributes it to the fact that most of her business comes from gay customers.
“It seems to be that the gay community is more responsible with their money,” she said. “And while I know some have children, it’s not like most are saving for college tuition for five or six kids.”
Annie’s underwent a renovation in the past year, and along with that came a new menu.
“Some of our new menu items are more expensive, but people are still ordering them,” Hendricks said.
The financial crisis also has affected the local housing market, said Bill Hounshell, owner of D.C.’s Hounshell Real Estate.
“Things have slowed down a bit in the past couple of weeks,” he said. “But with the election coming up and the low interest rates, it’s a great time to buy.”
Hounshell, who is gay and handles real estate in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, said there’s a noticeable difference between the markets in D.C. and in the suburbs.
“We have many more foreclosures in Virginia and Maryland,” he said. “I think there were much riskier loans taken in those locations rather than in D.C.”
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