‘Oh my God, there’s no people’: National Mall scene a symbol of shutdown’s impact

Factor in a government shutdown that’s closed the doors of the city’s 17 world-class, free museums, plus the National Zoo, and you’ve got all the makings for some very low snow globe sales on the National Mall.

Due to the #GovernmentShutdown, Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are closed. We will update our operating status as soon as the situation is resolved. We do not plan to update social media other than to inform you of our operating status. — Smithsonian (@smithsonian) January 2, 2019

“Oh my God, there’s no people. All the empty spots!” said Kim Tran, 65, who runs a hot dog truck that operates around Washington’s different prime tourist spots. On Wednesday, she was parked just outside the White House gates on 15th Street, joined by just three other vendors in a peak location that normally sees 10 shops set up each day.

“It’s so bad for the holiday, so bad for our business,” she said. Though winter is slow, the winter holidays usually bring an uptick, Tran said.

Brian Kim, who sells souvenirs out of his stand — neon sweatshirts bearing the city’s name, tote bags emblazoned with the presidential seal and red hats with President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again” — said many vendors may have decided not to work until the museums reopen. Read more

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Brian Kim, who sells souvenirs out of his stand — neon sweatshirts bearing the city’s name, tote bags emblazoned with the presidential seal and red hats with President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again” — said many vendors may have decided not to work until the museums reopen. Read more

‘Oh my God, there’s no people’: National Mall scene a symbol of shutdown’s impact

January, typically a gray month in the nation’s capital when temperatures begin to drop, is already a slow month for tourism-based businesses.