Construction in the Second Avenue downtown area of Nashville is underway as part of a project to improve the area following the 2020 Christmas Day bombing. Businesses in the area are concerned that the construction is making it difficult for potential customers to spot their shops. With barricades and fences surrounding the area, foot traffic has significantly decreased, leading customers to believe that the shops are closed.
Despite efforts by the Nashville Downtown Partnership to inform the public that businesses are open, many shops are still experiencing a significant drop in sales. Mattheessen’s dessert shop reported a 40 percent decrease in sales compared to the previous year, even after a major concert in the area. Despite expectations of increased foot traffic, businesses are struggling to attract customers and are eagerly anticipating the partial reopening of the road in September.
The ongoing construction project is set to be completed early next year, but businesses are hopeful that the partial road reopening in September will help during the busy summer tourist season. With concerns about the impact of the project on foot traffic and sales, businesses are navigating the challenges of operating in a construction zone while still providing services to customers.