CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Behind the colorful displays and cheerful windows of Charlotte’s small boutiques, local business owners are facing growing economic challenges.
“We have just been patient. It was a vast shift going from slammed busy to like one to two people,” said Elizabeth Blocker, sales lead at Disco Honey, a women’s boutique in Charlotte.
Many small retailers report thinning crowds while expenses continue to rise. Business owners cite concerns about inflation, potential tariffs and the burden of commercial rent…