Original Reporting

Open and shut: New data shows rising number of permanently closed Idaho businesses

New data provided to BoiseDev helps paint one element of the economic situation in Idaho: How many businesses have closed up shop for good.

Yelp, which tracks retail and service business across the country released its 2nd quarter economic data earlier this week on a national scale, and gave BoiseDev a look at the local numbers.

Across the state, Yelp said 573 businesses it tracks closed between March 1 and July 10th – either temporarily or permanently. But 301 of those businesses have closures marked as permanent across the state. Yelp tracks dozens of business categories, from restaurants to gun shops to plumbers to mortgage brokers and more.

The majority of the closures Yelp found came in the Boise area. From March 1 through July 10th, 284 businesses closed either on a temporary or permanent basis. As of July 10th, 146 businesses permanently closed.

Yelp’s methodology relies on a business owner to mark the business as closed on Yelp. It does not capture businesses that may have cut back on hours or staffing. The data also doesn’t include special closures – like a business taking a day off for Easter. The company said permanent closures have been on the rise in 2020.

BoiseDev has tracked a few closures in recent months, including Rockies Diner, Sage Yoga, Orphan Annie’s and Great Steak. Some national chains are also closing stores – including in the Boise area, including Gordman’s and Pier 1. Some businesses are undergoing a significant change, like the former Camels Crossing – which is now a wine shop.

But just as some businesses are closing, we’ve also told you about a new pizza place, boutique, mobile sushi bus, maternity store, clothing store and more. And some businesses, which closed pre-pandemic, are opening back up with consumer behavior shifts.

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Don Day - BoiseDev Editor & Founder
Don Day - BoiseDev Editor & Founder
Don is the founder and publisher of BoiseDev. He is a National Edward R. Murrow Award winner and a Stanford University John S. Knight Fellow. Contact him at [email protected]. His Twitter handle is @donlday

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