Lisa Fleischmann, owner of the Trump Truth Store + Hangout in Crystal Lake, Illinois, announced the closure on Facebook. Fleischmann said sales of her political T-shirts and memorabilia have plummeted since President Trump initiated Operation Epic Fury airstrikes on Iran on February 28. She posted on social media that the store is closed until further notice and she is not making half her rent.
The store had only moved to Crystal Lake from Huntley in mid-January, after Fleischmann received an eviction notice at her previous location for violating building rules by displaying a full-size inflatable replica of Trump in the parking lot. Initially, sales were strong at the new site, but the war quickly impacted business. Despite the closure, Fleischmann believes the country’s anniversary celebrations this summer will inspire a fresh boom in business.
The exact closure date and planned reopening date for the store have not been specified. It is unclear what specific economic data or customer surveys support the owner's claim that the war directly caused the sales drop. Additionally, it is unknown how many other similar stores have been affected by the war in Iran, or if this is an isolated case.