Businesses Close For Summer, Snowbirds Skip Town

A summer shutdown across the valley, and while local hotels have done well, some restaurants and other businesses are forced to close during the hot summer months.

Events such as the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival are credited WITH providing an economic boost to local businesses, but not enough to prevent several stores on El Paseo in Palm Desert and other cities from closing.

Business was already slow for Chapmans Menswear during peak season. But, for the first time in years, the owner has decided to close up until September.

The Palm Desert Country Club saw a dramatic drop in golfers this year. During the busy season, 250 golfers played the course per day, according to the general manager. But toward the end of May, business dropped to 10 golfers per day. It closed for the summer in early June, and doesn’t plan on reopening until November.

Bing Crosby’s in Rancho Mirage was forced to close down in June as well, and it looks like for good.

The Riverside County Office of the Treasurer evicted the restaurant because it failed to pay more than $95,000 in taxes.

“Typically, summerwise, we do see probably, maybe a dozen close down for the summer,” said Ruth Ann Moore, manager of economic development for the city of Palm Desert.

“It’s just too quiet. There’s no one out,” said Scott Chapman, president of Chapmans Menswear. “The heat came and just, all of a sudden, everybody just left town.”

On June 15, LG’s Steakhouse in Palm Desert closed for the first time during the summer.

However, its other locations in Palm Springs and La Quinta will remain open.