Inlet closes its doors after 6 years

After almost six years at 5 N. Court St., Inlet at Five will be closing in December because of a lack of sales, which might be attributed to the recent economic downfall caused by national events, like Sept. 11.

“It’s not a location issue, because the first five years were great,” said Joni Hodgson, owner of Inlet. “I don’t know if it’s due to Sept. 11 or the economy or what, but it just seems like people in general are spending less.”

Hodgson said she almost closed the business in the spring of this year, but hoped someone would show interest in taking it over before she was forced to close.

Hodgson expected business to pick up again once Ohio University students returned to Athens this September, but this was not the case.

“It was a great ride for the first five years,” said Hodgson. “But it’s time to get off.”

—Natalie Morales