Some downtown businesses aren't quite feeling the monetary boom of the RNC

CLEVELAND - After hearing some of the big numbers associated with the Republican National Convention’s stint in Cleveland, small business owner Anji Barshick was prepared to see an increase in customers.

The city’s host committee estimated roughly 50,000 people would visit the city, with an impact of more than $200 million in direct spending.

“I expected to be really busy the whole entire week,” she said. “I actually staffed two of us here this week, anticipating a lot of sales, but that was not the case.”

Barshick runs Anji’s Flowers, a small, brightly colored boutique specializing in selling paper flowers in downtown’s Fifth Street Arcades.

But despite being just blocks away from all of the convention’s action at Quicken Loans Arena, Barshick said her sales have taken a nearly 30 percent hit this week.

It’s a sentiment being shared by other business owners in the shopping area, too. Foot traffic was relatively slow Wednesday afternoon, and a handful of storefronts were closed.

Steve Presser, owner of Big Fun’s toy and gift shop, is operating a pop-up store in the arcade.

Some businesses in the area have allowed people to work from home or take the week off, and he believes that may be impacting sales.

“Whatever business they thought they would get would be on top of their normal business,” he said. “I think RNC customers have come in here, but the loss of the regular, traditional revenue that would come in through customers who are here during the week, every day, it’s been a big loss for a lot them.”

But business hasn’t been too shabby for Mark Matthews.

He opened ‘WhatKnot Bowtie Shop’ about a month ago.

“Nobody been knocking the doors down,” he said. “However, I've gotten very good customers from quite a few states. They’ve spent pretty good money, so I’m not mad at all. I’m getting business that I wouldn’t have gotten if the RNC wasn’t here."

As for Barshick, she’s still believing sales may take a turn for the better. 

“I’m hoping that when people are starting to leave town, maybe that’s when they’ll  come in and pick up some gifts before they leave,” Barshick said. “Maybe they’re just working the whole week and then they’ll shop a little bit."