LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Locals and tourists alike benefit from the fact that Las Vegas is 100% open again.
It is clear that business is booming. Crowds of people gamble in the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and party-goers fill Fremont Street, but experts say it takes our economy about 12 months to fully recover.
Step into Starburst Parlor, a keto bakery on West Charleston Boulevard in Las Vegas, and it’s like stepping back in time. A dial phone, pastel-colored cookware, and vintage decor complete the 1950s ambience.
“It’s a blessing,” said Jill Shlesinger, owner of Starburst Parlor.
Shlesinger bakes keto-friendly creations and hopes to open their shop soon. But that wasn’t always part of their plan.
“I was the general manager on the strip for 11 years. And then when the pandemic broke out, it was all over, ”Shlesinger said.
Like many others, Shlesinger started from scratch due to the COVID-19 shutdown. But she’s looking forward to a business boom now that Las Vegas is fully open again.
“Coming back from Vegas is the best that could ever happen to our city,” said Shlesinger.
Now crowds are coming to the city – but when will our economy see the results of this recovery?
Jeremy Agüero, Senior Applied Analysis Analyst
“We still have some work to do to get back to what we would consider normal prior to COVID-19,” said Jeremy Agüero, principal analyst for Applied Analysis.
Aguero says it will take about a year to reach these normal levels, in part because companies that are just reopening are struggling with recruitment and supply chain issues.
“There’s not a bad part of the fact that our economy is reopening, let me get that straight,” Aguero said. “But there are challenges that come with the speed with which we reopen.”
Agüero expects the problems to be short-lived and Shlesinger is ready to serve some goodies.
“I can’t wait to open my doors and welcome you to my new home,” said Shlesinger.
Aguero adds that another reason our full recovery will take about a year is because we still need convention to get to Las Vegas. Aguero says business travelers tend to spend more money and international travelers stay in town longer.
