LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Construction along Charleston Boulevard has reduced traffic to a single lane in key areas, and businesses in the 18b Arts District say the disruption is driving customers away.
The ongoing flood control project has drawn months of complaints from local shop owners, who say reduced access and obscured storefronts have cut into sales.
‘It looks like we’re possibly not even open’
John Bender, owner of The Cornish Pasty, said the roadwork has hit during what is historically his busiest time of year.
“Yeah, absolutely. We definitely have seen it hurt our lunch business. I think just one, it looks like we’re possibly not even open,” Bender said.
He said both lunch and dinner crowds have declined since heavy machinery arrived, estimating revenue is down roughly 20%. Bender said barriers placed in front of his windows compounded the problem — and that earlier communication could have helped.
“I mean, we could have maybe talked to them. Maybe they wouldn’t have, like, put a fence up in front of, like, our windows,” he said. “Could have done stuff, like, signage, better signage and stuff too, just to let people know that, like, everything’s still business as usual.”
Bender said he feels business owners have not had a meaningful voice in the process.
“Yeah, I feel like we kind of get the notices, like, after everything’s already planned, and we don’t really have, like, our voices being, like, able to be heard,” he said.
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Arts District board raises alarm
Tony Chavez of the 18b Arts District Board said the situation has pushed some neighboring businesses to a breaking point.
“And again, in this current economy, it’s already difficult enough,” Chavez said.
He said the prolonged construction poses an existential threat to some storefronts.
“But we have an issue though, where again, for how long it goes on, it can kill businesses, especially right there off of like Casino Center in Charleston,” Chavez said.
Chavez also pointed to concerns about communication from the city.
“A lot of it actually has to do with like transparency from the city,” he said.
City response and project timeline
City officials said the contractor is working as quickly as possible and has an outreach firm that meets with businesses and provides scheduling updates.
Officials said the Casino Center closure is expected to end Aug. 7. No end date has been set for the Main Street closure. The full Charleston Boulevard project is expected to wrap up in the third quarter of next year.
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