Owners say road projects and bridge closures slashed customer traffic and sales, making it impossible to stay afloat.
SYLVANIA, Ohio — Two more downtown Sylvania businesses are preparing to close their doors this summer, with both owners pointing to ongoing road construction and closures as a major factor in their decision.
The announcements come just months after Main Street Sweets closed in April, leaving another vacant storefront along Main Street.
Now, Bandit’s Main Street Eats and Finch and Fern say they will also cease operating from their current locations in the coming weeks.
For Bandit’s Main Street Eats owner Tacey Tober, the decision comes less than a year after opening the restaurant.
Tober said she left the corporate world last August to pursue a lifelong dream of owning a restaurant and quickly developed a loyal customer base with her homemade menu.
But she says construction projects throughout downtown Sylvania created challenges almost immediately.
“We opened when they started construction on Main Street. Then the bridge closed, which was a huge hit for us. And then the construction on the second block,” said Tober.
According to Tober, customers often struggled to access the restaurant, reducing foot traffic and cutting into profits.
After months of trying to weather the disruptions, she says she has made the difficult decision to close at the end of June.
“It’s heartbreaking, especially since I live down the street and I’m still going to have to drive by it,” she said.
A similar story is unfolding at Finch and Fern.
Owner Katie Gilliland opened the independent bookstore in 2023 and says downtown construction has taken a severe toll on business.
Rather than renew her lease, Gilliland has decided to close the store’s physical location at the end of July and transition to an online-only model.
“I lost tens of thousands of dollars in sales,” said Gilliland. “Would it be financially responsible for me to sign a new three-year lease when I’ve already been struggling? The answer is no.”
Gilliland said she believes city leaders should have done more to help downtown businesses cope with the impacts of construction.
“There should have been consideration for the small businesses here,” she said. “I’m not saying pay our entire revenue, but something.”
The closures mark the latest challenges for downtown Sylvania businesses as major infrastructure projects continue throughout the area.
WTOL reached out to the Sylvania Chamber of Commerce for comment. While no representative was available Thursday, the organization said someone would be available to speak on the issue soon.
WTOL also contacted the mayor’s office and left a voicemail with the city’s service director seeking comment. As of publication, neither had responded.
