WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Interstate 40 Business, a highway through Winston-Salem and Kernersville, has been under construction for about seven months so far, and some businesses owners says road closures have cost them customers.
Repeat Offenders Inc., an antique and vintage furniture shop, opened for the last time on Saturday. It's located on Liberty Street, and heavy construction on the highway project is visible from the sidewalk in front of the store.
The owner, Patti Hamlin, blames her store's closure on 40 Business construction.
"I'm the first casualty of Brookstown/Old Salem Area, but there's a lot of really great businesses down here," said Hamlin. "If the city of Winston and the people of Winston-Salem don't come and support these businesses, they're going to go the same way I am."
Hamlin opened her shop in September 2017. Before Business 40 closed in November 2018, Hamlin said her shop was doing quite well.
"Most businesses don't make money in the first three years, and I made a little money the first year," said Hamlin. "And then the road closed."
Construction starting the month before Christmas could not have happened at a worse time for retail stores Hamlin said.
"(Retail stores) live all year long for the six weeks at Christmas time, so I had stocked up the store with lots of pretty things for Christmas," said Hamlin. "And then I found out they were moving up the closing date to November 1st. I found out about it from TV, local nightly news, two days before it was going to happen, so that just ruined Christmas for me."
Once the construction began, Hamlin said her sales began to dwindle. Customers would use GPS map applications on their smartphones to try and reach the store, but were unable to find their way through the road closures.
Hamlin said the city and transportation officials were not much help.
"The city finally put up some signs, but the detour signs were still very misleading, which they need to change," said Hamlin.
After struggling to make ends meet, Hamlin said she had no choice but to close the store, which she announced three weeks ago.
"There were a lot of tears, a lot of talking, I talked my husband's ears off, looking at the books, and it wasn't an easy decision to make," said Hamlin. "The financial stress of a business failing has really, beat me down, it's just sleepless nights... just to keep the lights on, it takes it's toll on you."
On the shop's final day Saturday, customers and friends gathered with Hamlin at the store, offering words of support and closing a few more sales.
"My regular customers come in here and we hug and cry, and it's really gut wrenching for me," said Hamlin.
'The Business 40 project has been a challenge'
The 1.2-mile section of Business 40 is under construction because of its old age, outdated design, and inability to handle current traffic. After nearly $100 million in improvements, the new highway will include new pavement, modernized ramps, nine replaced bridges, and more.
Closed down November 2018, The Business 40 project is expected to be completed Summer 2020, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
The Liberty Street Bridge, near Repeat Offenders Inc., is projected to re-open Summer 2019. The adjacent Liberty Street is closed for improvements too.
WFMY News 2 reached out to NCDOT for comment about business' complaints, and we were sent a statement by email.
"NCDOT realizes that the Business 40 project has been a challenge. As a result, NCDOT officials have diligently worked with small and large businesses to help then navigate the construction - before and during it. We continue to work with them," said an NCDOT spokesperson focused on the Business 40 project.
A small business liason was brought on April 2015. Transportation officials personally informed more than 500 business owners about the closing beforehand and gave them resource packets, according to the NCDOT spokesperson.
"Small biz owners throughout the city requested meetings with NCDOT to learn more about the project. They were held in the early morning and after business hours so owners could attend. They were held at the times requested by the business owners," according to the spokesperson.
'There's a lot more traffic on the city roads'
On Saturday afternoon, longtime Winston-Salem resident Don Green walked throughout the construction site.
Bulldozers, cranes, and other construction equipment sat idle on Liberty Street as part of the Business 40 project. Orange construction cones, road closure signs, and piles of rubble and concrete are signs of a work in progress.
"It seems like it's been discussed about as long as I've been here," said Green who has lived in Winston-Salem since 1979.
Planning for the Business 40 project actually began in 2006, according to an NCDOT spokesperson.
Green said the biggest headache of the construction has been increased traffic congestion.
"I live not far off Country Club road, and there's a lot more traffic on the city roads, 1st St.," said Green. "Country Club is much more busy, because people can't drive on the interstate, so hopefully when the when this is all done, it will be a lot better for traffic flow throughout the town."
Green hopes when the new highway re-opens, it will also be more beautiful.
"As a sculptor, as an artist, I would really hope that it would be prettier. It would be nicer, more enjoyable," said Green.