Businesses surrounding the evacuated Empire Towers office building in Glen Burnie, Maryland, report sharp declines in customers and mounting financial strain after county officials set a 150-foot safety perimeter and closed adjacent roads following a structural incident.
Immediate effects on commerce and workers
County authorities ordered the evacuation after a floor inside the 10-story structure partially shifted while crews worked on an underground parking garage. The perimeter, imposed for public safety, blocked access to storefronts and service businesses, forcing some to pause operations and others to accept limited trade.
Employees at a nearby car wash said customer volume fell dramatically. On a typical day the business serves about 100 vehicles, but staff estimated they handled fewer than 50 vehicles when the perimeter and road closures were in effect. Managers and workers described the hit to daily revenue and the anxiety of not knowing how long the disruption will continue.
"Miserable. No work. No work, no food,"
The quote above reflects the immediate financial pressure on workers who rely on daily wages, while business owners face reduced receipts and potential fixed costs that do not pause with closures.
What owners say and short-term outlook
Management at affected sites say the lack of a reopening timetable and limited communication about structural safety have compounded the problem. Some businesses reopened in a limited fashion once authorities allowed partial access, yet owners reported that the perimeter and continuing road restrictions continued to depress customer traffic.
- Safety perimeter: 150 feet
- Building involved: 10-story Empire Towers
- Typical vehicles served at nearby car wash: ~100 per day
- Estimated vehicles served after evacuation: <50
Wider implications for small businesses
Temporary closures and access limits can quickly erode the thin margins many small enterprises operate on. Lost daily revenue can affect payroll, inventory purchases and the ability to cover rent and utilities. For hourly workers, fewer customers translate directly into fewer hours and reduced take-home pay, increasing near-term household vulnerability.
| Measure | Before evacuation | After evacuation |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles served (car wash) | ~100/day | <50/day |
| Perimeter | None | 150 ft |
Officials had not provided a timeline for when roads and businesses might return to normal, leaving owners and employees to weigh operational risks against the need for income. As structural assessments continue, affected businesses will face decisions about staffing, hours and pursuing any available relief or insurance claims.
The incident underscores how infrastructure and construction problems can ripple quickly into the local economy, affecting not just the property directly involved but a network of surrounding commercial activity and the households that depend on it.
