Sumter's Marble Slab shutters because of coronavirus

A dessert business has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sumter.

Marble Slab Creamery shut down because of the virus' impact on business. Marble Slab announced it was closing its doors in November. It reopened several times during the summer after closing in March amid the coronavirus pandemic but closed for the final time because of low sale performance, according to a representative of Marble Slab.

Compared to other locations in the state, Sumter's location had to close more often, and the economy didn't recover.

"We had to close more often in Sumter," said Geri Fields, business owner of the Sumter franchise. "Sumter just never bounced back."

The already-struggling homemade ice cream shop had another issue that contributed to its closure. Fields said there was more difficulty with labor and the hiring of staff than she has seen in other markets.