Lynchburg, Va. (WDBJ) – The Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and Tourism released its 2022 annual report showing citywide commercial sales of $1.5 million.
One business said they changed their business model, which helped them survive the pandemic.
“We’ve changed a lot to provide a better process for the delivery system. A lot of people come to eat here now. When the pandemic started, wherever they were eating, they had to wear masks until the food came out. Whenever we were big When popularity goes down, sales pick up,” said David Kang, general manager of Mizumi Japanese Bistro and moon tea in Lynchburg.
The restaurant’s monthly sales are over $90,000, thanks in part to growing tourism
The report showed that tourism grew by 120%, higher than pre-pandemic sales in 2019.
Lynchburg visitor Dona Vellek said she noticed a lot of people walking around outside, but more importantly, everyone was warm and friendly.
“There were a lot of people walking, a lot of people walking their dogs, a lot of people going in and out of restaurants,” she said. “I’ve been looking for places to eat during the few days I’ve been here, and everywhere I go has been very friendly.”
Despite the growing number of tourists, Kang says it all depends on how you treat your clients and your group.
“I think it’s all about people, how I welcome them, or how I manage my people. How I train them. I think that’s the most important part of running a business,” he said.
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