Shutdown impacting local DC area economy

WASHINGTON - As the partial government shutdown concludes its first week, residents of the greater D.C. area are about to see a major impact on tourism.

The Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are set to run out of money next week and will be forced to close.

In the meantime, businesses ranging from dry cleaners to restaurants are feeling the pinch.

One local coffee shop is familiar with the impact of the ebb and flow of politics has on the local economy. Swing's Coffee - with its wooden bar and penny tiled floors - likes to keep it simple. Established in 1916, Swing's has moved around, but it claims the title of oldest continuously running coffee shop in D.C. Its Golden Triangle location is just steps from the president himself.

"17th and G, right next to the White House. We see a number of staffers, a lot of World Bank and IMF people come in," said Swing's Coffee manager Tudor Payson.

Swing's Coffee has been navigating the tides of the federal government - they are veteran shutdown survivors.

"We often follow federal shutdowns and often we'll just close with them. We see that with local businesses, some of the other lunch places just won't open if the federal government's closed. It just doesn't pay off," Payson said.

As this latest shutdown grinds on into 2019, Swing's Coffee and their neighbors along G Street are watching their steady flow of customers slow to a drip. Nevertheless, they're thankful that the locals still need their caffeine fix.

"We found a good spot and a lot of local customers like our coffee. Definitely enough to support us, even if it's a little slower," Payson said.

Swing's Coffee's staff says they're prepared to weather the last political storm - like others over the past century. But they're concerned the impact will weigh heavily on both their customers and their community.