MINNEAPOLIS— As construction crews move earth and excavate a crucial corridor for dozens of Uptown businesses, Robert Sorenson, owner of Bobby Beads, looks through all the machinery, dirt and dust.
“I have never seen a rebuilding project of this intensity,” Sorenson said.
Fortunately, the consequences of construction for his business are not as bad as he previously feared construction began.
“We’re feeling pretty good. We had more business than we expected,” Sorenson said.
The consequences vary depending on the day and also depending on the weather.
RELATED NEWS: Parts of Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis are now closed, leaving small business owners “terrified.”
One thing is certain: customers are taking action.
“I’ve had customers tell me they had to walk five blocks to get here,” Sorenson said.
It’s a different story next door at La Bodega Taco Bar.
Owner Alex Rosario said sales are half of what they were before construction. It also doesn’t help that delivery drivers cancel when they decide it’s too difficult to navigate construction and get to his restaurant.
“This is not the way to boost Uptown businesses,” Rosario said.
Meanwhile, at Uncommon Grounds Coffee House, owner Dale Lee said they are on fairly stable footing.
“The hours have changed as people come over, but for us it’s pretty much stayed the same,” Lee said.
Lee sees all this construction mess as a short-term pain for a long-term gain, for a neighborhood trying to get back on its feet.
“I think it will make the whole area look very sleek and modern and I think it will highlight all the properties,” Lee said.
This is just the early stages of the project. Once this section is complete, construction will begin to the north on Hennepin Avenue, between 26th and Douglas Ave, starting in 2025.
