OGDEN, Utah — The ongoing federal government shutdown is taking a heavy toll on small businesses across Ogden, where local shop owners are watching their sales plummet and their customer base shrink day by day.
For Jeremy Holmes, co-owner of Taboo Pizza on Washington Blvd., the financial hit has been severe. “Our sales have dropped by almost 50% from when we started up,” Holmes said. He and his wife opened their second location in May, expanding from their first takeout-only branch on Harrison Blvd. But now, like many local entrepreneurs, they’re facing the kind of economic strain they feared most.
“Mom and pop shops don’t necessarily have the funds or financing to survive long periods like this,” Holmes explained. “This shutdown has probably gotten as bad as what we anticipated.”
With far fewer customers coming in — often just four or five people during lunch instead of a full dining room — Holmes said they’ve had no choice but to scale back staff hours dramatically. “When you go from a full restaurant that can seat 170 people to barely a handful of diners, you can’t afford to keep the same number of employees,” he said.
The federal presence in Ogden is significant, with thousands of employees tied to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), federal contractors, and Hill Air Force Base. Many of these workers are now furloughed, cutting off a major source of local spending.
To manage rising food costs, Holmes said they’ve had to simplify their offerings. “We cut the menu in half so we could keep prices affordable,” he said. “We don’t want people paying $30 for a sandwich.”
Other nearby businesses are feeling the same financial pain. The owners of The Cupcake Shoppe and Bakery said they’ve lost about half their sales since the shutdown began and have also reduced employee hours.
At Two Bit Bistro, co-owner Andrew Shorts echoed the same concern. “When we talk to our regulars, they say, ‘We’re sorry we haven’t been in. We work for the FBI, the IRS, or the military — and we’re on furlough right now,’” Shorts said. “They’re not sure how long this will last or where to spend their money.”
For many Ogden business owners, this shutdown isn’t just about lost revenue — it’s about survival. Holmes said he hopes the crisis ends soon, but until then, he’s urging residents to rally behind local stores and restaurants.
“They’re the ones that need you right now,” he said. “Many of us are making month-to-month decisions about whether we can stay open.”
According to U.S. Small Business Administration data, small enterprises like these make up over 99% of Utah’s businesses, underscoring how crucial community support will be as the shutdown drags on.
