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Massachusetts is the state with the 15th highest rate of permanent closures per person in the nation. For every 1,000 residents, a little over 5 businesses have closed permanently - about 34,400 businesses.
The highest rate is in Hawaii where 9.4 businesses have permanently closed per 1,000 residents.
Businesses that closed temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic are increasingly announcing that they will not ever reopen.
Of the 163,000 businesses across the U.S. that closed for COVID-19, more than half - 97,000 - have decided to remain closed permanently, according to Yelp economic tracking.
Not all businesses are fairing terribly in the pandemic. Professional services, such as lawyers, real estate agents, architects, and accountants, and sole proprietors have been able to stay afloat. Health-related businesses are doing well, too.
Restaurants and retailers continue to be hard hit by COVID-19 restrictions. Places that serve breakfast, brunch, and lunch are feeling the sting, in particular, Yelp reported. Mexican restaurants and dessert places are hurting, too. Meanwhile, pizza shops, delis, food trucks, bakeries, and coffee shops - places better equipped to handle take-out orders- have closed at a lower rate than their more formal colleagues.
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