Springfield, IL (WAND) -In the past few months, restaurants Jerk Shop Go, Tacology 201, Loukinens’ on 4th, MaryFlor Mexican Restaurant and the Wakery have announced they are closing their doors.

Elizabeth Wake, owner of the Wakery, says there are several reasons she has to close her doors, but most of them point to poor traffic downtown.

“A lot of folks say they don’t come downtown because they don’t feel safe in the area,” said Wake. “It’s not well lit. They either can’t find parking or parking is too difficult to decipher. They say it is very difficult to navigate the downtown.”

Wake says she has attended several city council meetings and talked to different city groups to see what can be done to boost the downtown economy. But she says she has gotten empty, unanswered promises.

“It is going to take policy change and it is going to take action steps that are that are clear and measurable and that have time constraints on them,” said Wake.

Several closing businesses have posted on Facebook that they have also struggled to get answers or help from the city or Downtown Springfield Inc. WAND News tried to schedule interviews with both groups today, but instead received statements.

Mayor Misty Buscher said in her statement that she is very concerned about the loss of small businesses in the downtown area. She says the largest impact has been the loss of foot traffic from work-from-home employment. She also said the fire on Adams Street and the closure of the Wyndham have made a negative impact:

“There is no doubt, that this is a challenging time and I encourage all of our small business owners, as well as the building owners, to reach out to our Office of Planning Economic Development Office to see that any opportunities available to bridge funding aren’t missed before making a closure decision,” said Buscher, in a statement. “The City’s Economic Development office not only has programs and funding that could be of assistance, but also will route businesses and helping them to apply to State assistance programs as well. In addition to City resources, Downtown Springfield Inc. and multiple local agencies offer resources that we want all of our small businesses, not just downtown, to be aware of, in particular if it can be the difference in being able to stay open.”

Buscher also said she is working with Downtown Springfield Inc. to see how they can promote local assistance options for businesses.

Downtown Springfield Inc. Executive Director Carlos Ortega said in the statement that they have several programs to help get visitors downtown and engage a wider customer base. They are also working to develop a stronger downtown plan. Ortega’s statement is as follows:

“Each business that shuts its doors isn’t just a statistic. It’s someone’s dream, years of sacrifice, long hours, and deep belief in what they had to offer this community,” said Ortega.

“We also understand that running a small business downtown right now is incredibly hard. From reduced foot traffic after the shift in the state workforce, to rising costs and difficulty finding workers or capital—it’s a tough environment. There are systemic barriers here that go far beyond Springfield, but they hit especially hard in our historic downtown core.

“We are committed to continuing the work, showing up for business owners, and listening. We truly want downtown Springfield to be a place where entrepreneurs not only take a chance, but also find the support they need to succeed.”

Wake considers herself a downtown advocate and says that will not end when the Wakery shuts its doors.

She said she has been talking to several other business owners and thinks several more will close by the end of the year.

“It is a blow to downtown and to the community as a whole that businesses like ours are leaving because they are going to leave larger gaps than just economic commerce,” said Wake.