Pullman business owners tell council downtown foot traffic and stability remain strained

Several downtown Pullman business owners said at the Jan. 28 Pullman City Council meeting that construction, reduced foot traffic and unstable, short-term commercial leases are harming the local retail economy, forcing some longtime businesses to close or relocate.

The comments, made during the meeting’s public comment period, included accounts from Michelle Kelly, owner of Michelle’s Closet, Dominic (who identified himself as a downtown plant shop owner and “modern plantsman”), William (owner of Shagit’s Bagels in nearby Moscow, Idaho) and a representative for the Montessori School of Pullman that said the nonprofit preschool is struggling with enrollment and building-heating issues.

Why it matters: Council members said the complaints are consistent with what constituents have told them and urged residents to shop downtown. Business owners asked the council for more active outreach, targeted support for storefront stabilization, and clearer, faster permitting and permitting-waiver processes for things such as temporary heaters and public events.

Owners’ reports and requests

Michelle Kelly said she previously warned the council in August that six downtown businesses were running critically low on funds; since then three have closed and three more are at risk. Kelly said her own foot traffic was down about 20% compared with pre-construction levels and that some proprietors exhausted retirement savings or took loans to stay open. “I plead that you guys come see downtown,” she said, urging council and staff to visit and meet merchants.

Dominic, who has moved his plant business to Pullman from Colfax and has relocated multiple times since 2023, said instability in lease terms and high turnover in commercial spaces pose a barrier for both new and existing small businesses. He encouraged the council to study successful small-town programs, pursue grant and donor support, and coordinate with Whitman County and Washington State partners to find funding and regulatory fixes.

William, owner of Shagit’s Bagels, described receiving hostile online comments after offering free Hanukkah bags to students. He read a passage from a community member criticizing Council member Eric Farajon’s public remarks related to Middle East policy and said the episode underscored tension felt by some community members during the holiday season.

Jane, a representative of the Montessori School of Pullman, said the school — operating in the Gladdish Community Culture and Arts Center building — remains open but faces very low enrollment and is seeking licensing waivers to allow space heaters while building heating problems persist.

Council response and next steps

Council members acknowledged the testimony and pledged follow-up. Council member Fajarin said she is shopping downtown and urged residents to do the same. Council member Parks noted the Downtown Pullman Association has hired a new executive director and is pursuing grant funding to support façade improvements and business grants.

Council member Weller said she will visit downtown businesses and bring a notepad to record concerns and ideas. Council member Guido said several work groups (including housing and tourism) continue to pursue complementary efforts, and he praised the housing work group’s engagement. Council members discussed allowing each council work group to set its own meeting frequency (monthly, quarterly or otherwise) so groups with lighter workloads do not unduly burden staff time.

What was not decided

No formal commitments of new funding or ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting. Council members asked to meet one-on-one with business owners and for staff to coordinate next steps. Specific program amounts, timelines for any grants, and detailed permit-waiver decisions were not specified at the meeting.

Ending

Council members asked business owners to share more granular information about lost revenue, permit issues and lease terms so staff can evaluate short-term relief and longer-term strategies. Several council members reiterated a general request that residents patronize downtown businesses while construction concludes this spring.