Macon businesses see slowdown after federal government shutdown

Wheat says October is the strongest month for Macon when it comes to travel, but this year the city’s numbers were low.  

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- The federal government has been back open for a week, and many Macon businesses are returning to regular schedules.

Visit Macon President and CEO Gary Wheat, says downtown Macon did see a slight impact during the shutdown. He said some coffee shops and other businesses saw fewer customers because federal workers were not being paid and were less likely to visit during the shutdown. Closures at Ocmulgee Mounds and Robins Air Force Base also reduced visitor activity.

“You do see a lack, because people say OK let’s stop and evaluate what’s going on. If I’m a government employee or if I work at Ocmulgee [Mounds National Historical Park]  and we’re closed, that’s an issue,” said Wheat.  He explained the shutdown caused a ripple effect as people cut back on eating out and shopping, leading to noticeable drops for downtown restaurants and retailers.

Wheat says October is the strongest month for Macon when it comes to travel, but this year the city’s numbers were low.  

“Our previous October in 2024 was an evacuation month, so we saw a lot of evacuees from Hurricane Helene. So, when you compare numbers from this October to last October, there is a significant impact”, said Wheat.  

He says during the shutdown, the city used as many alternatives as possible to help travelers and locals. He explained they were able to direct visitors to other attractions. “We talk to them about visiting a business, or go have lunch. So, for us, it’s about pivoting to a message that there’s a lot more here”, said Wheat. 

Wheat says Macon will continue to have plans in place to prepare for any future shutdowns.