SHALLOTTE, NC (WWAY) -- A Shallotte business owner is furious with the DOT after she says construction around her store from the Smith Street Extension Program has killed her customer turnout.
Since the construction started on either side of State Highway 130 that the Beaches Thrift Store in Shallotte, owner Laurie Sweet says business has gone down hill.
“The Smith Street Extension has come in and totally blocked off my business with road closed signs on both sides since July 1st,” said Sweet.
The extension project started in March 2009. However, the construction around Beaches only started a few weeks ago and is already causing a huge headache for Sweet.
“No one is noticing my access and my access has been put in very poorly,” said Sweet. “No stop signs, no yield, no nothing.”
She says her business was out thousands of dollars during the July 4th weekend because of the road problems.
“All the business just bypassed my on the July 4th weekend, which is our largest weekend here,” said Sweet.
Customers say the construction makes it much harder to get to Beaches.
“It takes more gas to get here because you've got to go around your elbow to get here and you think twice before you come here now,” said Vicki Worley, a long time customer of Beaches.
Sweet says that she was unaware that the Smith Street Extension Project would affect her business.
“We're doing the best we can and we're hoping that the public will raise their hands and help us in any way that they can so that we can be recognized again,” said Sweet.
An engineer from the DOT says Sweet had a chance to learn about the project through public hearings and workshops that were held before the project began.
Bypass
I was at the beach during this time and every time I went to Shallotte it clearly seen that it was hard to get to this shop. I think that the DOT needs to step up to the plate and take care of this issue before it gets even harder for these business owners who are trying to make a living.
Uh oh...
...this lady better hope the DOT doesn't take as long on her project as they have taken (and still continue) on the bridge on Cornelious Harnett Drive beside MLK Parkway in Wilmington!
Ummmm. I was down that way
Ummmm. I was down that way all last week and saw her business clearly from the signs that were put in place. You do not have to go around your elbow to get there. Also, I find it hard to believe that this business was out thousands of dollars over the 4th holiday. It is just not one of those businesses that I think many people frequent.
Well clearly you haven't
Well clearly you haven't shopped at BEACHES THRIFT STORE because we have many loyal customers that frequent our store weekly. We sell everything Nautical Items, Furniture, (handpainted furniture) New Scooters, and we provide Parts & Service for Scooters. Don't be so quick to dismiss our store. People that's live here know us and love Beaches Thrift Store, but during the July 4th Holiday we were hit hard from the road construction. They put up LARGE signs saying ROAD CLOSED to our business!!!!!!!!! We didn't even know if it was ok to drive down that road. WHY didn't DOT think about Mrs. Sweet's business? Do you think they didn't know about BEACHES THRIFT STORE?
I agree
I agree with Ms Wolford. With this business being directly affected with" road closed " signs, DOT should have directly approached this store owner. Not everyone has time to, or chooses to read the paper. This one block is esp hit hard and all home owners & businesses should have been approached directly. I believe our tax dollars can afford to pay someone to sit down and talk with these people. DOT should put up a sign directing people to this store.
Small businesses
Considering July 4th is one of the shops busiest times of the year, and last year she made $4000 and this year $100, I would say YES, it made a huge difference!! Again, it is the small businesses that get the short end of the stick. No, I don't blame the president, it is DOT, the state, who doesn't care about the struggling middle class!
Horrible idea
I do not disagree with this woman. I too have a business near her and all the by-pass extension has accomplished is to divert traffic away from her store and all of the other businesses along that road.
That's your government at work for you folks. They spend all of this money to build a by-pass around business that make the local economy work, so in turn, they're cutting off their nose to spite their face so to speak. Thank Obama for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which led to this debacle ( it's clearly displayed by a road sign near the extension that probably cost thousands of dollars no doubt). Vote him out before he does more damage.
Yes, it's all Obama's fault. Isn't it always?
Clearly Obama hates thrift stores. And Shallotte. Good for you for connecting the dots.
Try comprehension.....
Since it sounds like your brain synapse might be misfiring, let me help :
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was put forth by Obama and his administration to stimulate the local economies and create jobs. Well, the jobs were temporary but the negative effect is long lasting. In this case, it diverted traffic away from established businesses to a desolate road through the woods. I own a business on that road so I can already speak of the effects. In another case another small town in Georgia took away side street parking to make a 4 lane road (with ARRA money no less). Well, that took away parking for the shops and 3 business have closed as a direct result. Do you get it now smarty pants?
Now if you would have thought things though before you responded, you wouldn't have to sound like a shallow thinker. Try that before you vote next time too.
Beaches Thrift shop
The DOT should have personally sat down and talked with this business owner about this situation. I know that in the area I live, when the state put a highway thru, they actually offered to buy ALL property affected by this. In these difficult times with our economy, this business owner is struggling like everyone else to make a living and doesn't need a huge obstacle like this, which can ruin her business. The DOT needs to step up to the plate and make this right for Ms Sweet. The President put money out there to build better roads, which would create more jobs, NOT take away the livelihood of the hard working middle-class. DOT, the ball's in your court! PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING!
N. SIMARD
According to the news last
According to the news last night, Ms. Sweet neglected to attend public hearings that would have informed her of the DOT's plans. The project has been going on for months. Surely she should have had a clue long ago and sought a remedy before the new road was opened.
There's no money left in the
There's no money left in the budget for her. DOT has used it all up on agency employee pay, not insisting on rigid contract terms, and approving change orders at exorbitant costs.
Just curious
Why didn't she come out to the public meeting? You can bet that when I learned of a project near me, I made a point to go to the meetings. You can ask them to put up signs indicating that businesses are open and even ask to have them put the name of your business on the sign or improve the access to your business.
As a taxpayer I would never want to pay for a government employee to personally visit each business or resident that may be affected by a construction project just because they don't want to go. I'm sorry for her, but she should have gone to the public meeting. I'll bet they would have worked with her.
To Just Curious-I never
To Just Curious-I never recieved any notice of a meeting nor did I see it in the paper as DOT says it was. It seems like if it effects you directly the state would notify you of these meetings. These 6 years of being a hard working small business owner - you bet I would have been there!