CORPUS CHRISTI, TX \u2014 <\/p>\n
Small business owners along Alameda in Corpus Christi are bracing for a new road project that is set to begin November 4th and last for at least two years \u2014 and they’re asking the community to stick with them through the disruption.<\/p>\n
Alameda Road project has small businesses asking customers to stick with them through construction<\/p>\n
Marcus Lozano has owned his small business, Feathered Friends and Company, for 14 years. When a city employee walked into his office with documents for the new road project, he had flashbacks to the Everhart Road project, which wrapped up just a few months ago.<\/p>\n
“As a small business owner in Corpus Christi I’m all for growth and development, I’m all for moving forward. I just can’t help but remember what we went through for the past five years,” Lozano said.<\/p>\n
When Lozano got the announcement about the start date and timeline, he told me he’s worried the construction may deter customers.<\/p>\n
“I mean I have been that guy in the past before I was a business owner, ‘Oh there’s construction? Let me go somewhere else or let me go another way?'” Lozano said.<\/p>\n
That’s why I visited his store and four other small businesses to hear what they have to say about the construction.<\/p>\n
At Eirinis Gyros and More, manager Ivy Loukanaris said the businesses want to make it worth the trip.<\/p>\n
“We want to give you a good experience. Obviously it’s going to not be fun getting through it. But once you come in you’re going to forget about the chaos inside,” Loukanaris said.<\/p>\n
Saul Rodriguez, the owner of Doghouse, says he’s been through this before.<\/p>\n
“Uh oh here we go again. This is not my first rodeo. This happened like 15 years ago,” Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n
He also has a message for everyone driving on Alameda.<\/p>\n
“Just be courteous to other drivers because there’s going to be a lot of traffic, more traffic than usual,” Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n
Joseph Elizalde of Joseph’s Lunch Box tells me he’s confident his customers will find a way past the traffic cones.<\/p>\n
“Corpus Christi… it’s a support local theme around here. This Bayside area there’s tons of mom and pop shops, restaurants. I think that they’ll find a way in here,” Elizalde said.<\/p>\n
Others, like Cindy Neighbors, say road projects are just a part of life in Corpus.<\/p>\n
“I mean almost anywhere you go in Corpus now there’s construction. And it is annoying,” Neighbors said.<\/p>\n
But just like all the businesses on Alameda, she says she’ll still be here to fill a need in her community.<\/p>\n
“Suck it up and give us a shot!” Neighbors said with a chuckle.<\/p>\n
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