New businesses opening despite recession

There are several new businesses opening up in St. George even though the economy is down and many established businesses are struggling to stay afloat.

Having taught yoga at Dixie State College for three years, Jessamy Bowie knew right now was the perfect time to open a yoga studio in downtown St. George.

"With the slow economy people have been under a lot of financial stress," Bowie said. "They are now ready to get their health back and find inner peace."

Another business is capitalizing on a unique market. Ice and skating is not the first thing that pops into mind when thinking of St. George, but Dixie Igloo Ice Centre, 200 W. Tabernacle St., just might change that. Delays with getting the building erected and the ice frozen pushed back the opening for Dixie Igloo, but to everyone's relief, as their logo says, "It Finally Froze Over."

"Business has been crazy," said assistant manager Thomas Lowe.

Quite happy with the attendance at the center, there has been one surprise for Lowe and Savage. The center had expected the biggest turnout to be for the open skate, and yet what has drawn the most skaters has turned out to be the youth, adult and drop-in hockey.

Savage said, "We may live in the desert, but a lot of people here can ice skate."

Another new business that is just weeks away from its grand opening is Casa Dona Maria, a Mexican grill restaurant just a block from DSC campus at 720 E. 700 South.

"Right now is an awesome time to build," said Richard Rivera, operations and concept developer for Casa Dona Maria.

Because of the slow economy, Rivera stated he has been able to save a considerable amount of money by building now instead of several years ago when prices on construction were much higher.

Rivera is also happy to be able to help the many workers in the construction business that have been struggling to stay afloat. Many of Rivera's construction crew had in fact been out of work before beginning work on the restaurant.

Andrea Lamoreaux, owner of The Red Dog Cafe, located at 1090 North Highway 18 in Dammeron Valley, sees starting a new business in a down economy. Working 14 hour days six days a week because you can't afford to hire a lot of help makes for long days, she said.

One of the most noticeable changes Lamoreaux has noticed as the economy has dropped even more has been not so much in how many people are eating out as it is in the age of their customers and what people are ordering when they do go out.

The percentage of the customers who are retired has stayed steady, while the percentage of young couples and families eating out has dropped drastically.

When people do splurge by going to dinner out they are only buying one meal and splitting it between them, or they are just getting a small meal such as just a bowl of soup.

Lamoreaux's caution to new businesses is to not cut back on quality to try to make money.

"The economy has to come back," she said. "Just keep your quality high and your customers will come back too."