Small business optimism is running above average nationally, while uncertainty has dropped, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
Here in Delaware County, the business mood depends on what business you are in, writes Gene Marks for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Overall, small businesses in the Philadelphia region saw a 2.4 percent bump in consumer sales in October compared to the year before. Nationally, that figure is 1.5 percent.
Blevins Sommelier Services, which offers wine tastings in people’s homes and bourbon education events, has seen strong growth this year, with monthly bookings doubling.
“I’m optimistic for 2026,” said Amanda Blevins, who operates her business out of her home in Glen Mills. “The demand for wine events remains steady, and the demand for bourbon tastings has increased.”
For Rainy Culbertson, owner of The Corner Restaurant in Media, 2025 was a difficult year.
“Eating out is a luxury and is one of the first cuts to a person’s budget in economically uncertain times. We’ve had ups and downs this year, but mostly down,” she said.
The Corner is also still carrying pandemic debt and has thin profit margins because of inflation.
Read more about the mood of local business owners in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
