As workers stay away, business drops off

Offices in downtown Boston had a quiet holiday atmosphere yesterday, as employees worked from home, relocated to suburban outposts, or just plain hit the road for vacation to avoid any hassle of the Democratic National Convention.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston said one-third of its 1,000 employees were staying away from its waterfront office tower this week. State Street Corp. diverted 300 employees out of 5,000 at Boston-area offices to a backup facility in Westborough. Citizens Financial Group said that far fewer employees were working downtown, with more than usual taking vacation and the rest telecommuting or working out of the bank's suburban locations.

"It's deserted," said Tom Newman, vice president of corporate relations for semiconductor firm Teradyne Inc.

Teradyne's two facilities on the edge of downtown normally house around 1,500 employees. The rooftop parking level at the company's Harrison Avenue headquarters, where more than 100 employees ordinarily park, had fewer than two dozen cars yesterday. Gilette Co. has more people off this week than any other this summer.

Hundreds of employees who would normally gather at Teradyne's Boston facilities for quarterly planning meetings are instead assembling at the firm's factory in North Reading, while many others worked from home.

But for many small businesses that depend on foot traffic from downtown workers and tourism, the convention looks like a curse on commerce, based on the first day's experience. City sidewalks and streets from the Financial District downtown to the Longwood medical area were emptier than usual.

"I think I want to file suit against the Democrats," said Nick Papadopoulos, owner of the Derne Street Deli on Beacon Hill, who had guzzled his fourth cup of coffee by 8:30 yesterday morning to pass the time because so many of his regulars stayed away. Normally he would have done $200 in business by that time, Papadopoulos said in his empty cafe; yesterday he had just $30 in the register.

Only three people were on board the 3 p.m. sailing yesterday of the Liberty Clipper, a schooner that normally gives four daily tours of Boston Harbor. The ship can seat up to 100 passengers. Two earlier tours were canceled because no one showed up.

"It's just completely fallen off," said ship owner Greg Muzzy.

So many workers appeared to have heeded warnings by city and convention officials to make alternative plans for the work week that yesterday's morning commute was a breeze compared with a typical Monday morning stop-and-go.

About 50 Sovereign Bancorp. employees signed up to telecommute from branches or other bank offices in Framingham and Andover, according to spokeswoman Ellen Molle. But for those who came in to work in the Financial District, they had an easy commute.

"They wish it could be like this all the time," she said.

Retailers who expected to benefit from the influx of conventioneers complained that delegates were stingy with their money. Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market were teeming with conventioneers and media representatives yesterday afternoon, but many were just window shopping.

Hundreds of people walked past restaurants such as Houston's, near Faneuil Hall, but few trickled in. General manager Jeff Palermo blamed the drop on office closings in the Financial District, which accounts for as much as 80 percent of his lunch business on a typical weekday.

Still, not every business was hurt by the influx of Democrats. On the same Union Street block where bars like the Bell in Hand Tavern sat empty at lunchtime, others were thriving. The Union Oyster House was hosting several parties, and the Purple Shamrock snagged more walk-in traffic at lunchtime yesterday.

"It's tough to say what we expected from this, but this is definitely better than normal," said Tracy Saradnik, Purple Shamrock's marketing manager.

Keith Reed of the Globe staff also contributed to this article.