GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Several West Michigan favorite restaurants, like Greenwell and House of Wine, went under this year, raising the questions: Why now? What makes this year different from those in the past?
Economic expert Paul Isely, associate dean at the Seidman College of Business, said there wasn’t just one straw that broke the camel’s back — it was three.
The first is COVID-19. Isely said even though the pandemic was five years ago, its impacts are still being felt today.
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“It was really ’22 before people realized we were definitely out of COVID. Then it takes a couple of years, if you can, to try and make adjustments to see whether it’s a temporary change or whether it’s a permanent change,” said Isely…