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Carmel businesses close, owners frustrated with construction

Posted at 6:48 PM, Sep 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-16 18:48:29-04

CARMEL, Ind. – Carmel business owners are frustrated with construction and being forced to close up shop.

The owner of Carmel Pop Shop said he can’t compete with road blocks and fences caused by the construction.

“Without the walkup and driveup traffic, there’s just no way,” said owner Lou Sanchez.

The Carmel Pop Shop opened at Rangeline Road and 3rd Street last year and Sanchez said he was sold on the positive aspects of the construction, but now the area has become a dead end.

“Everything was positive. (They said) there’s going to be a great project, but in reality no one was warned about the negative,” he said.

The Carmel Pop Shop isn’t the only business in the area affected.

“Since they’ve closed the gates, we can’t get any traffic down the street,” said Soloane Robertson of Abreu Motors. “Not only do we lose our pedestrian traffic, we can’t get our deliveries down here anymore because they can’t get down the street and turnaround.”

The builder, Old Town Development, said the fence has been up less than a week and is unfairly being blamed. But, because of the concern, it is now being moved.