Hillsborough Street businesses say construction project is bad for sales

Raleigh, N.C. — Business owners along Hillsborough Street in Raleigh say a road construction project there is hurting their sales.

Last spring, construction began on the project to make Hillsborough Street more pedestrian- and traffic-friendly.

“The first week in May, when they put the barrels up, there was a drop in sales,” said Ric Culross, general manager of School Kids Records, 2114 Hillsborough St.

In the past year, Culross said, business has dropped 75 percent.

“We're trying very, very hard to keep our nose above the water line, but (at) each phase it seems to be worse and worse,” he said.

Construction has cut into School Kids’ parking lot, and a new median keeps people from turning left into the lot, he said.

Red Hot and Blue, located at the corner of Hillsborough Street and Oberlin Road, recently shut its doors.

The Irregardless Café, at 901 W. Morgan St., is located around the corner from the construction, but it's not immune to the fallout.

“It’s having a huge impact. It’s making it very difficult to get to the restaurant,” said owner Arthur Gordon.

Business is down about 26 percent, Gordon said.

The construction will eventually make West Morgan a two-way street, which means more traffic toward his restaurant.

“We're suffering in the hopes that, once the street is finished, we'll be able to take a curse and turn it into a blessing,” he said.

Back on Hillsborough Street, business owners are less confident.

“When you change the thought that there is a problem with the street, it’s going to be hard to reach out and get those people to come back here,” Culross said.

The construction project is expected to be completed in September.

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When I was a teenager, Hillsborough St overflowed with businesses and nightlife, mostly discos. That bothered a bunch of people for some reason so they felt they needed to "fix" it. And they did. They drove most of the businesses out. Of course disco went out of style, too, but most of the student-oriented businesses moved to Avent Ferry Road and the rest of the nightclubs and restaurants went to Glenwood South. They did the same thing to Five Points. That used to overflow with people every night, too. I don't how it is now. I haven't been there at night for so long.

Radio Wave
February 15, 2010 11:43 a.m.

The businesses really are having a hard time. between the barbershop & pizza joint, I used to go over there once or twice a week, but now with navigating & parking so much worse than they already wear, I shave my own hair & do with out pizza. I havent' been hurt by the recession but saving on consumption is never bad.

Phrostbite
February 10, 2010 10:38 a.m.

Frazier's is closing after this weekend, but Urban Food Group, which also owns Porter's, Vivace, and Coquette is reopening it in the near future as a wine bar with all kinds of food. There's an article on NewRaleigh about it. I would blame that more on the type of restaurant Frazier's is (fancy), and the type of people that live around there (college kids).

Red Hot and Blue is pretty terrible, and them closing has less to do with the construction and more to do with their own issues.

I personally love driving down Hillsborough Street when I'm going downtown, because I'm always curious to see how it's progressing. It's also running 2 months ahead of schedule and may be finished as early as late June. Plus the major disruptions will be over by March or April. I really think people should try to stick it out a little longer.

jgimondo
February 10, 2010 10:30 a.m.

The main reason I avoid the place, like the plague, are the red-light cameras. Not that I have the habit of running red lights, but I don't want to do anything to encourage the spread of such. Don't you all remember the main reason for the changes was to "make the area pedestrian friendly" my thought then was "it won't be long until the most important thing they should have done is make the area auto friendly" How's that new convention center, with no parking, going? That's another place I avoid like the plague.

rc4nc
February 10, 2010 10:15 a.m.

Hey lone voice: RH&B was not my fav restaurant as I'm vegetarian & their veggie offerings were few & far between. I went there with office birthday group get-togethers as the place was chosen by someone else. This seems to be one more example of the economy killing a business, or even a business killing itself. It's a tough location there even in good & normal times. I hear the utilities & spacing is antiquated so upgrades to run a business there have to be enormously expensive. I keep expecting that eventually the whole corner building will have to be torn down & redone.