DES MOINES, Iowa — The owners of the three restaurants left inside the Merle Hay Mall food court say the number of customers has dwindled since the COVID-19 pandemic.
These businesses are: Maid-Rite, Vietnam Cafe and Tamale's Industry, and most of them said they've stayed in the mall because they had hoped the Des Moines Buccaneers hockey team would move into the old Younkers store, but that pending deal failed.
Now, the restaurants told Local 5 News they're hanging on in hopes of more customer support because their businesses are their way of living.
"We have got to have the people come out. Everybody has to do their part," said Maid-Rite owner Brian Ickowitz.
Earlier this year, Ickowitz said he had to close down the other Maid-Rite he owned at Valley West Mall. Sales at that location dropped 50-60% early during the pandemic. At the Merle Hay Mall, however, he is making more than break even.
Vietnam Cafe owner Brenda Tran hosts a buffet every Friday which brings in more customers compared to other days of the week. However, Tran said her profits only cover what she pays for the food.
"At the condition of the mall, and I'm staying here for the next five years, I don't think I can make it," she said. "I'm just hoping that I'll be able to make enough to cover the rent."
Tran works over 12 hours a day at the Vietnam Cafe and also owns a boutique within the mall. She says without consistent customer support, she is behind on rent. This comes after she signed a new five-year lease with Merle Hay Mall.
Another business within the food court that is working to get by is Tamale's Industry owned by German Tejada.
"We're at least paying the bills," Tejada said. "We're kind of saying we break even. We're not making a real, real profit."
Tejada, like Tran, had been banking on the Des Moines Buccaneer's move to create a huge increase in sales and foot traffic.
They both said the accessibility to the mall and lack of advertising of the food court has led to the decrease in customers.