MINNEAPOLIS – Customers aren’t “digging” the front-end loaders along one of Minneapolis’ busiest corridors, and small businesses are paying the price.
Inside Les Sól in Uptown, bright colors or Jango the dog attract your attention. Outside, orange cones line the streets reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue continues.
The city is working to reconstruct the arterial road between West Lake Street and Douglas Avenue in two phases. The current phase includes West Lake Street to 26th Street.
Since construction started, owner Mikaela Harrod says sales have dropped 60%
“It’s just so hard for companies to make money, like in general, and let alone when you take away access to that,” Harrod says. “It’s crazy how much it all disappears in an instant.”
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After overcoming COVID and an ever-changing retail sector, it was the rebuilding project that doomed their business.
“Unfortunately, we had to make that call just as construction hit,” she said.
Customers like Justin say it’s difficult to support businesses along this corridor.
“I’ve been doing DoorDashing a lot lately because it’s harder to get around myself,” Justin said.
Origami Tiger Sushi on Lagoon Avenue is also feeling the pressure
“Doing business in the construction industry has been an uphill battle,” one employee said.
It’s a battle they hope will only last a few more months, and one they hope they’ll survive.
The plan is to complete the reconstruction before the end of the year.
