It's not just state workers who would feel the pinch of Gov. Linda Lingle's furlough plan.

Cora Stevens, owner of Simply Ono, has been working by herself lately at one of her lunch wagons. Normally she would have two people working the lunch wagon outside the Frank Fasi Municipal Building. But because of the slumping economy, she simply can't afford it. And Stevens only expects it to get worse when the governor's furlough plan — where many state departments would close for three Fridays each month — goes into effect starting in July.

"We went down 25 percent and now it's down to about a third of what we would normally make. I gotta make the rent," Stevens said.

Stevens' location, which is walking distance from several state buildings, means many of her customers would be affected by the furlough plan.

Stevens said she expects to cut her food costs by cooking fewer meals per day, although that won't affect her portions.

"My food costs are there, but I gotta cut down somewhere. Labor not so much, (food) will be the first thing."

Stevens also operates two other outlets at the University of Hawai'i- Manoa — a lunch wagon and a kiosk — and is experiencing similar problems because there are fewer students during the summer. She said if the furloughs take away more of her business, the municipal building wagon would be the first thing to go. But until then, she plans to stay.

"So far, I gotta just go ahead and keep coming, but what I might do is cut my menu down to less selection."

Stevens said her profit margin is already low and that she is lucky if she and her husband make a 5 percent profit.

"Our policy is always to run pricey items on budget prices." Stevens said, "I just cannot keep throwing away food. So I've started cutting back and I'll take my chances. If I run out, I run out."

Sandy Steele of Yuki's Wagon has been serving food on the grounds of The Queen's Medical Center for 31 years. After being hit by the weakening economy, Steele said she isn't sure she will be able to stay in business if the furloughs go into effect. But she is hopeful.

"It would hit the business quite a bit, but I have people from the hospital, so it wouldn't be too bad."

Despite a potential loss of customers, Steele also said that, like Stevens, "I would have to just stay here. It would be a bit slower."

Steele said about 35 percent to 40 percent of her customers are state workers. When asked if she would be able to survive with three days less business a month by 40 percent of her customers, Steele said, "Not really. It's been really tough for everyone."

Despite less business, Steele has kept her prices the same. But she said her customers' ordering habits have changed dramatically.

"I've noticed people buy smaller portions, they eat a lot of sandwiches. They've (customers) cut back a lot. I don't sell a lot of plate lunches anymore.

"You can really see it. People have cut back, buying less, buying smaller plates," Steele said. "They're really trying to conserve."

Under the governor's furlough plan, 15,600 state workers will be asked to stay home for three days a month as part of an executive order that would save the state $688 million.