Business owners worry about future amid Branson construction

BRANSON, Mo. — Shannon Huen moved to the Branson area from Oklahoma a few years ago, a place she felt called to.

"God brought me and my family here to make a difference in Branson," Huen said.

Huen has been hopeful to make an impact and she says she found success early on with a food truck, and used that success to set up a storefront to better serve customers and be a part of something bigger.

However, what she didn't see coming was the impact from a several-month-long construction project just feet from her door.

Huen says the construction work has brought stress and anxiety to her door.

"My customers mean everything to me, but I have to make decisions that I'm forced into making, because at five and a half hours into my day, I've made $48. I don't care what business you are, nobody can survive on that," Huen said.

OzarksFirst spoke to other businesses around the construction zone, where one employee says her hours have been slashed due to the lack of customers.

Another business owner says off-camera, they're losing about 25% of their revenue each week as construction goes on.

Up Main Street, Samantha Krikorian, who works at Kilroy's, has already been through a phase of construction.

She says there were some financial setbacks, but says the project was worth the wait.

"Just keep hanging in there because it's going to get better. And I promise what's to come when it opens back up, it's going to be definitely worth it.

Across the street from Kilroy's is Stacy Brennan's As Seen on TV store, where Brennan says she had a much different experience during the construction.

"I was doing $30 to $50 a day in sales and I was not able to come up with my rent, I warehouse, rent my electricity and my income because this is my only income," Brennan said.

Brennan says the work was needed, but the planning could have been better.

"It's not completely finished. They haven't done the lights or anything yet, but it does. It's a big improvement, especially the roads and the sidewalks were kind of getting tattered, so we did need it done," Brennan said. "But, they picked a bad time to do it."

OzarksFirst reached out to City of Branson leaders for a response to the concerns of local business owners.

The statement response from city officials says, "The Downtown Streetscape Project is an important infrastructure investment that reflects our commitment to strengthening the foundation of Branson's historic downtown. While we recognize that construction presents short-term challenges, especially for our valued downtown businesses, the improvements underway are laying the foundation for long-term success, safety, and vitality in our historic district.

This project is about more than aesthetics. We are replacing decades-old underground utilities, upgrading sidewalks for greater accessibility, improving lighting, and enhancing the overall experience for residents, visitors, and business owners alike. These updates are critical to ensuring that downtown Branson remains a vibrant, thriving destination well into the future.

Throughout both planning and construction, the City has remained committed to minimizing disruption and supporting our downtown businesses every step of the way. From offering $120,000 in incentives for early completion and authorizing 24-hour work schedules for the contractors, to coordinating free parking and adjusting timelines to support local sales seasons. We are working hand-in-hand with the community to keep downtown accessible and active.

We're grateful for the patience and partnership of our downtown business owners and remain focused on delivering a stronger and safer downtown. One that honors its historic charm while meeting the needs of the future.

The project is expected to be completed no later than October 15.