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Politics & Government

Minnesota State Shutdown Slowing Oakdale Businesses' Traffic

Oakdale Dunn Bros' revenue is down 10 percent; shop is cutting hours.

Businesses near to the building at the northeast corner of Highway 5 and Hadley Avenue say they’re feeling the effects of the Minnesota state government shutdown, now in its 13th day.

Business is down 10 percent at the , said co-owner Tom Nacey.

As a result of the decline, he’s had to cut the shop’s open hours temporarily throughout the duration of the shutdown.

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So, now it’s not only government employees, but his employees who are losing work hours.

“People just don’t understand that everything is connected,” he said. “It’s all tied together.”

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MnDOT Communications Supervisor Christina Joyce said she didn't know how many workers at the Oakdale building had been furloughed, however, she said of the agency's 5,000 employees across the state, only 235 are still working.

At the restaurant next door to Dunn Bros, business has also slowed, said manager Melissa Hall, although part of that could be due to the holiday last week.

“Usually with the warmer weather, we usually do better,” Hall said. “I’m sure it’s having an effect on us.”

Nearby owner Steve Han said since people typically only stop in his shop about once per week, it’s too early for him to tell how he’s being affected.
“I’m sure we’re affected," he said.

Over at the Holiday Stationstore on the corner just across the intersection from the MnDOT building, they’re also experiencing slower traffic.

“We can definitely tell during the lunch period that they’re shut down over here,” said assistant manager Josh Knapp.

And despite the sign on the door warning patrons, customers still have been asking for Powerball tickets and DNR licenses.

“Most people are really understanding,” he said, “and they obviously know it has nothing to do with us.”

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