Store Owners Say Construction is Hurting Business

(Germantown, TN) The slicer is spinning a less these days at Vanelli’s Deli in Germantown. “Business is down 20 percent”, said owner, Charles Vanelli. Many other small businesses here are seeing less traffic through their doors. They say it all has to do with construction on their street. “The Monday and Tuesday it was closed (street) there was no warning. I showed up Monday and my driveways closed.” said Vanelli.

It’s a perfect storm of construction. The state is redoing the roadway at Poplar Avenue and Germantown Road.  The city started tearing up Farmington using federal dollars set to expire if they weren’t spent now. Then the railroad decided to get into the act too, doing construction on crossing gates in the area.

“It’s gone on for so long and small businesses out here are wonderful”, said Betty Hayes.  “The city doesn’t want to lose them, and we are.”

It’s meant mega sales which do little good for Hayes. Other businesses have laid off employees or even worse shut down.  Those who do survive worry once all this construction is finally done, if any of their neighboring stores will still be in business.  

State transportation spokeswoman Nichole Lawrence said their project is scheduled to be completed at the end of the year, no word from city leaders just yet on how long their project will take.