Sign Of The Times

WAITSBURG - In an- other sign Waitsburg's Main Street is struggling, the own- ers of Betty's Diner have decided to close temporarily and "regroup" this month. It's unclear what its schedule will look like when the res- taurant reopens, probably in February, they said.

The development follows last year's closure of La Monarca Mexican restaurant and comes amidst reports of slowing revenues for other establishments.

After almost four years, Etcetera's is also wrapping up its business in the Plaza building, which its owners, Robbie and Marilyn John- son, have put up for sale.

Observers of the down- ward trend can't put their finger on an exact cause. Instead, they blame a combi- nation of factors, including the area's general economic slowdown, the summer's rise in fuel prices suppressing tourism, a cutback in Ski Bluewood's days of operation, the appeal of nearby big box stores and the more fundamental nature of Waitsburg as a bedroom community to Walla Walla.

"We're going to re-evalu- ate, regroup and start over," co-owner Bart Baxter said. "The first winter wasn't as bad as this one. We're not ready to let it go yet. We may come back as just a weekend joint."

In the summer of 2011, when three new business opened simultaneously (Betty's, the Anchor and Coppei Coffee), the diner launched with 14 employees and op- erating hours every day of the week.

Just before co-owner Tif- fany Laposi put a seasonal closure sign in the window last week, the diner had a five-day-a-week schedule and a staff of five, which did not include Baxter, who had returned to the construction business to help subsidize the restaurant.

Baxter said several factors affected the diner's decision to take a long break. Betty's now competes for Blue- wood skiers with better food served at the resort's lodge. But even before that, tourist traffic and local patronage had dropped off. The local economic slowdown, which comes despite high prices for wheat, also contributed to a drop in revenues.

"Before, people might go out to eat two or three times a week," Baxter said. "Now, they do so maybe once. Ev- erybody's kind of holding on to their money. People are tight with the wallet."

City administrator Randy Hinchliffe said Waitsburg's commerce has always been cyclical.

"We have ups and downs here," he said, noting that many residents do not spend a significant time on Main Street during the week be- cause they work in Walla Walla.

While it is not unusual for other restaurants on Main Street to close for a portion of the winter, including the Whoop Em Up Hollow Café, the jimgermanbar and the Anchor Bar, the drop of traffic this year appears to be across the board.

And with local customers accounting for only 10 to 15 percent of sales for most downtown establishments, the slowdown in the number of visitors has been a challenge, Baxter and other own- ers have said.

Baxter said he was grate- ful to a number of Waitsburg residents who supported the diner, which include city council members Carl New- ell and Scott Nettles. But he's disappointed the '50s- style diner hasn't caught on more in Waitsburg in the past year and a half.

"I haven't turned the rest of the town on to the restau- rant," he said.

Next week's Business Page Focus: It's Not All Gloom And Doom