By MONA NAIR
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE(WATE) - Several restaurants on the section of Cumberland Avenue known as the UT Strip have been forced to close. Others says business is down dramatically.
At McDougal's Chicken, a sign on the door says the business gave it all they had, but they just couldn't keep things going.
The Chili's on the Strip announced it's closing on Wednesday.
Nearby, the staff at Trino's Pizza and Grill say they understand. Business there has dropped by well over 50 percent in the last year.
They say that some days, they see as few as five to 10 people a day with no deliveries. It's getting tougher and tougher to break even.
Some weeks they can't even afford to pay their employees. "So, I'll have to wait an extra two weeks, three weeks to get a check," says one employee, Cody Novak.
The sushi place next door to them closed last year and the space is still empty.
Down the street, Great Wraps Cafe shut down a couple months ago. Nearby businesses say it's all the same story. The customers aren't coming in.
But not all businesses are struggling. Workers at Niro's Gyros say business is good. "I think it is what we are selling I guess, kinda rare and more popular," says Suzy Noahman.
In fact, one group of customers drove 20 minutes from Maryville to eat at Niro's Monday night.
Niro's Gyros is next door to the closed McDougal's Chicken.
The staff at Niro's Gyros feels that in addition to a tough economic climate, McDougal's Chicken may have been hurt by several other fried chicken restaurants in the area.
