Some small businesses both surviving, thriving

Decatur, Marietta stores see small increases, but not in College Park yet.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In these days of bleak reports of a global recession, Ted Arpon's Sugar Cakes Patisserie is seemingly a paradox.

The downtown Marietta dessert shop was bustling on a recent weekday afternoon.

"The economy's still bad," Arpon said, but "we're still OK."

Sales are steady or even increasing as pleasant weather draws more people to Glover Park across the street.

"Summer is coming," he said.

 … Some businesses could be doing better by virtue of being survivors, said Don Sabbarese, director of Kennesaw State University's Econometric Center. A lot of restaurants and other businesses have failed, which means more traffic and sales for nearby competitors. Nationally, business bankruptcies that typically end in the firm being dissolved have increased almost 64 percent this year, he said.

"How does that affect people who are left standing? It certainly can't hurt," he said.

 … Some small businesses also may be getting at least a temporary boost because fuel and food prices are lower than last year, and tax refunds are bigger, Sabbarese said. Such stimulus could be short-lived, however, because people are still worried about high unemployment and other issues.

 … It's enough to make Sabbarese, the Kennesaw State University economist, skeptical that local retailers and other small businesses are seeing an improvement.

Even in recent casual conversations with local business owners, he said, "I've never gotten a comment where business is up."