Closing shop will cost him
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Last year, Matthew Tats, owner of ‘Matt Electronics Merchandizing,’ kept his downtown store open during the May 1 marches, in spite of calls from organizers and activists to close all businesses. This year, Tats decided to listen.
Tats, an immigrant from Iran, opened at 9 a.m. and planned to close for the day at 10 a.m., when the march to City Hall was scheduled to begin.
Tats hoped to snag a couple early morning customers snooping for radios, TVs, or DVDs. He didn’t have any luck, and was in the process of closing just before 10 a.m.
‘Last year this happened,’ he said of the protest, ‘and we decided this year it’d be better to close early.’ He didn’t experience any problems or intimidation last year.
‘It doesn’t bother me what they’re doing,’ Tats added. ‘But maybe it will if it keeps happening as much as it has in the past year.’
Tats, whose business is usually open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., estimated the early closure would cost him about $200 to $350 in sales. He’s his only employee, except for his wife who watches the store while he attends English classes.
--Francisco Vara-Orta on Broadway