Beyond the Barriers: Navigating Uptown’s Construction Impacts on Local Businesses

Robert Sorenson, the owner of Bobby Beads in Uptown, Minneapolis, is keeping a watchful eye on the construction crews working on a crucial corridor for dozens of businesses in the area. Despite never having experienced a reconstruction project of this intensity before, Sorenson notes that the impact on his business has not been as bad as he feared before construction started. In fact, the store has received more customers than expected, which is a positive outcome.

However, customers have had to walk several blocks to get to the store due to road closures caused by the construction. Next door at La Bodega Taco Bar, owner Alex Rosario shares that sales are half of what they were before construction. Delivery drivers also cancel orders due to the difficulty of navigating the construction zone. Rosario expresses concerns about how this will affect businesses in Uptown.

On the other hand, Uncommon Grounds Coffee House owner Dale Lee mentions that their business has been steady despite the construction. The hours have changed for customers, but overall, the impact has not been significant. Lee sees the construction as a short-term inconvenience for long-term benefits for the neighborhood.

Lee believes that once the project is completed,