Construction hurting local businesses

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - When many think of problems construction can cause,long detours and traffic jams may come to mind, but in one area of West Lafayette, the problems have entered local businesses.

Most construction causes headaches for motorists, but one project in particular in West Lafayette is causing pain for business owners.

The Yeager Road project has created problems for owners and employees, and they say they are losing money.
    
A construction sign on Sagamore Parkway says Yeager Road is closed, but it also says local businesses are open. That's an important message business owners on Yeager Road want to deliver, because the construction is starting to take its toll.

Whether it's the Papa Murphy's on the corner, the  Asia Oriental Market down Yeager road or the BP gas station, business owners say they're losing customers.

"The construction started, and it's cut our business about 50%," Alan Simpson Owner of the BP at Sagamore Parkway & Yeager Road said.

"With the added construction, I would say our sales are on average down about 30%," John Cunningham Owner of Papa Murphy's at Sagamore Parkway & Yeager Road said.

"A lot of customers think we are closed, but we are not closed," Emily Lin Owner of Asia Oriental Mart on Yeager Road said.

The business owners on Yeager say many customers think the businesses are closed or they don't want to mess with the confusion to get there.

 "With all this construction here, I almost didn't come to the BP," BP customer Joel McDowell said. "I didn't think I could get in here. I looked for a second and realized, I could get in here."

It's exactly that confusion that business owners say is hurting their businesses.

BP owner Alan Simpson said the construction has even had him thinking of shutting the doors on his store until construction clears up a little bit.

"I thought about closing because the overhead is still here with the expenses and business is down so much," Simpson said. "We've reduced hours somewhat."

Though the businesses are losing money and may need to find ways to cut costs, reducing hours is a last resort.

That's why they all bring this reminder.

"We've been open every single day 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. like normal," Cunningham of Papa Murphy's said.  

"I just want to let everybody know that we're open and for our regular customers, we're still here for you," Simpson said.

"I just want people to know that we are still here, we are still open, and we are still trying to do best for our customers." Lin said.