New Businesses Flourishing in Tough Times

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The number of new, independent businesses has increased, despite the sluggish economy.

Don and Bridgett Lindsey opened up Midtown Deli one month ago. Both said their decision to open the restaurant has already paid off.

"We couldn't have asked for a better reception than we've gotten. We already have regulars. People are in here eating two, three, four time a week," said Don Lindsey.

Don worked in food services for 13 years and decided the time was right for him to start a business of his own.

"There's more pride of ownership when it's yours, and I think it's just a goal. It's just a goal that people have," he said.

Many people have followed that same goal despite the sluggish economy and rising unemployment and have found that bad business news is not necessarily bad news for small businesses.

"They say 70 percent of all businesses are small and that holds true in Oklahoma. We have very few companies that are over, say 90 employees," said Capital West Securities Chairman Keith Geary.

Geary said small business drive the economy, even in tough times.

"It doesn't take an extraordinary large amount of income to open a shop like that," Geary said. "As you can expect with the commercial market the way it is, you can find some fairly cheap rates on space."

Don and Bridgett said they hope to capitalize on the lack of restaurants in the area.

"We were really confident in the concept and the location and area, just a strong business lunch crowd and very supportive local community," Don said.

Oklahoma has high marks for having low start-up costs for new businesses. A recent study ranked Oklahoma City as the second strongest performing metropolitan area in the nation, behind San Antonio.