By Cory Stark - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Natalie Yarbor - email
MADISONVILLE, KY (WFIE) - The ice storms and struggling economy have taken a toll on Hopkins County, causing another local business to close its doors.
"It was becoming more and more of a struggle and finally we had to draw the line and say we couldn't do it any longer," said small business owner Natalie Seaber, who closed down her coffee shop on north Main Street in Madisonville on Wednesday.
"Wednesday was really difficult," Seaber said. "It was kind of cleaning out day, taking things down. When you put all of your blood sweat and tears into your business its an emotional attachment."
Seaber opened the business in October of last year and said she never expected for it to close so soon.
Seaber's business isn't the only victim to the struggling economy
Already this year, many restaurants have shut their doors, and last week's closing of Browning Chevrolet has put the county and city back on its heels.
"It hurts more in a town like this than a Hopkinsville or an Evansville, because there are fewer here," said Chamber of Commerce President Harriet Whitaker. "And that is bad for us, because it takes more business out of Madisonville and Hopkins County. "
Whitaker said she hasn't seen so many businesses close in such a short amount of time.
Some new small business are opening, though, like Trackside Barbeque, which opened in February.
"It's been slow building, but we have seen a steady incline every week," said Trackside owner Tim Rigdon.
Rigdon and his wife and co-owner Barbra said they are mindful of the local business economy but have confidence that their business will make it.
"We knew it was going to work," Tim said. "If I didn't think it would work, I wouldn't have invested the money or the time, the effort, and the hard work."
"If people have a vision and a plan and the right resources, I think there is every reason to think they can succeed in small businesses," said Whitaker.
Whitaker said a good way to help local businesses is to shop locally.
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce has Chamber Bucks available that can be used at any Chamber of Commerce-affiliated business.
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