The construction crews are currently working on a critical corridor in Uptown, Minneapolis, which will benefit dozens of businesses. Robert Sorenson, the owner of Bobby Beads, is closely monitoring the progress of the project as earth is moved and dug up. Although he has never experienced a reconstruction project of this intensity before, he is relieved to note that the impact on his business has not been as bad as he feared before construction started.
Sorenson mentions that his business has received more customers than expected, which is a positive outcome. However, the effects of the construction vary depending on the day and weather conditions. Customers have reported walking several blocks to reach the store due to road closures.
Next door at La Bodega Taco Bar, owner Alex Rosario shares that sales have dropped by half since construction began. Delivery drivers also cancel orders due to the difficulty of navigating through the construction zone. Rosario expresses concerns about how this will affect businesses in Uptown in the long run.
On the other hand, at Uncommon Grounds Coffee House, owner Dale Lee mentions that their business has remained steady despite the construction. The hours have changed for customers, but overall, the impact has not been significant. Lee sees this short-term inconvenience as necessary for long-term benefits to enhance Uptown’s properties.
Lee believes that once the project is completed, it will bring modernization and attractiveness to Uptown’s neighborhoods with properties looking more attractive than ever before. The current phase of construction set to continue north on Hennepin Avenue until 2025 between 26th and Douglas Ave., is just a small part of a larger plan to improve infrastructure in Uptown’s area.
Overall, while some businesses may be facing challenges during this construction period, others see it as an opportunity for growth and improvement in their neighborhood’s infrastructure and appearance.