  As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the mobility patterns of people worldwide
changed drastically. While travel time, costs, and trip convenience have always
influenced mobility, the risk of infection and policy actions such as lockdowns
and stay-at-home orders emerged as new factors to consider in the
location-visitation calculus. We use SafeGraph mobility data from Minnesota,
USA, to demonstrate that businesses (especially those requiring extended indoor
visits) located in affluent zip codes witnessed sharper reductions in visits
(relative to pre-pandemic times) outside of the lockdown periods than their
poorer counterparts. To the extent visits translate into sales, we contend that
post-pandemic recovery efforts should prioritize relief funding, keeping the
losses relating to diminished visits in mind.
