Supply Shortages Impacts Marshall St. Businesses

By Marie Achkar

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Due to a labor shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic, stores across the country are in need of many different kinds of items. 

Businesses on Marshall Street have also been greatly affected. Store manager Erik Hicks of J. Michael Shoes said that getting shoes in specific sizes has been a challenge. 

“Footwear is really the big trouble right now in our business. We’ve been able to get most of our clothing and coats pretty well. But shoes…shoes have been tough” he said.

Michael Shoes isn’t the only clothing store that is having trouble. Manny’s manager and co-owner Bill Nester shared his concerns about his downstairs stockroom being empty right now, saying that the crisis has been a nightmare.

“I’ve had problems getting hoodies and sweatshirts in right now. We’re just going into hoodie season, so I have enough right now. But if it continues on, I’m going to have a problem by Christmas time” he said.

Restaurants and food businesses on Marshall Street have also been having trouble with getting certain ingredients or supplies. At Chimac Chicken House, there have been shortages of not only chicken, but also beverages. Manager of the restaurant Ken Zhou says that he hopes the crisis ends by the end of this year.

“We’ve had a lot of delays in getting inventory. We’re almost out of spices, and right now, a lot of suppliers are just giving out a small portion of everything to all the restaurants” he said.

Store owners are not sure when the crisis will ease up so that they can finally start getting supplies again. The shortage may continue for months longer.