Stoneham Businesses Say Downtown Construction Is Driving Customers Away

Merchants in downtown Stoneham say an ongoing construction project has made it harder for customers to reach their doors, and that the disruption is taking a measurable toll on their bottom lines.

Business owners along the affected stretch describe a “significant drop in customers” since work began, pointing to closed lanes, limited parking, detours, noise and dust as obstacles that have discouraged shoppers and diners from making the trip into the center of town.

A familiar problem for small main streets

The situation in Stoneham echoes a pattern seen in downtowns across Massachusetts and the country. Infrastructure work u2014 roadway reconstruction, utility upgrades, sidewalk and streetscape improvements u2014 is often badly needed and, once finished, can make a commercial district safer, more walkable and more attractive. But the months of upheaval in between can be brutal for the small, independently owned shops that depend on steady foot traffic and spur-of-the-moment visits.

Unlike national chains with deep reserves and multiple locations, a single restaurant, salon, boutique or cafu00e9 typically has little cushion. A sustained slowdown in walk-in traffic can quickly translate into reduced hours, trimmed staff schedules, delayed rent payments or, in the worst cases, permanent closure before the ribbon is ever cut on the finished project.

Why customers stay away

The barriers are rarely a single big obstacle so much as an accumulation of small frictions. Shoppers who cannot find convenient parking may choose a strip mall instead. Drivers routed around the work zone may not pass the storefronts they once saw daily. Outdoor dining can become unpleasant next to heavy equipment. And perhaps most damaging of all, many would-be customers simply assume that businesses in a torn-up area are closed u2014 even when they are open and fully staffed.

That perception problem is one reason merchants in construction zones often push for clear, prominent signage reminding the public that shops remain open for business, along with temporary parking accommodations and wayfinding help for pedestrians navigating fenced-off sidewalks.

What towns can do

Communities facing similar projects have tried a range of mitigation measures. Some stagger or phase work to keep at least part of a commercial block accessible at all times. Others schedule the noisiest or most disruptive phases outside of peak business hours or around key shopping seasons. Municipalities and chambers of commerce have also organized “shop local” campaigns, special events, gift card promotions and marketing pushes aimed at drawing residents back downtown during the disruption.

A smaller number of cities and towns have gone further, offering direct financial relief u2014 grants, fee waivers or low-interest loans u2014 to businesses that can document losses tied to public construction. Regular, detailed communication about timelines and closures is another commonly requested fix, since owners say unpredictability is often as damaging as the work itself.

Looking ahead

For Stonehamu2019s downtown merchants, the central question is whether they can hold on long enough to benefit from the improvements the project is meant to deliver. Streetscape and infrastructure upgrades are typically pitched as long-term investments in a districtu2019s vitality, with the promise of better sidewalks, safer crossings and a more inviting environment once the barriers come down.

In the meantime, business owners are asking for the simplest form of support available: that residents keep making the trip, keep parking a little farther away, and keep spending in the stores that are still open behind the orange cones. Read More