Longtime Rochester Entrepreneur Asks Community to Shop Local

Sammi Loo, owner of multiple Rochester restaurants, says January has been one of the hardest months she's faced in 17 years.

Published on Feb. 2, 2026

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Sammi Loo, the owner of Bebap Korean Eats, Mezza9, and Ootori Sushi in Rochester, Minnesota, is asking the community to shop local after a challenging January that saw her monthly sales drop 50% compared to normal. Loo cited a combination of factors, including bitterly cold weather and rising prices, that have made running her small businesses an uphill battle, even after surviving the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why it matters

Small businesses make up 99.9% of all businesses in the U.S. and employ nearly half the American workforce, representing over 40% of the country's GDP. Loo's plea for community support highlights the struggles many small businesses are facing and the importance of shopping local to help them stay afloat.

The details

In a Facebook post, Loo wrote that 'this January has been one of the hardest months I've ever experienced in 17 years of running my small business.' She said a combination of factors, including the cold weather and rising prices, have caused her monthly sales to drop 50% compared to normal. Loo said she 'survived COVID, and I truly thought that was the worst thing we would ever face,' but the current economic reality has been even harder.

  • Loo has been running her small businesses in Rochester for 17 years.
  • Loo made her Facebook post asking for community support on Monday.

The players

Sammi Loo

The owner of Bebap Korean Eats, Mezza9, and Ootori Sushi restaurants in Rochester, Minnesota.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The agency that reports 99.9% of businesses in the U.S. are small businesses, employing nearly half the American workforce and representing over 40% of the country's GDP.

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What they’re saying

“Every single dollar you spend locally helps a real person right here in Rochester. Because when you support small businesses, you're not just buying something —you're helping a family stay afloat, helping someone keep their job, helping a dream stay alive.”

— Sammi Loo, Restaurant Owner (Facebook)

“For sure, I feel like the economy is very bad right now. A lot of people are very tight in money, especially after the holidays. People don't want to spend too much anymore.”

— Sammi Loo, Restaurant Owner (KTTC)

The takeaway

Loo's plea for community support underscores the vital role small businesses play in the U.S. economy and the challenges they face, even after weathering the pandemic. Her story highlights the importance of shopping local to help small businesses like hers stay afloat during difficult economic times.