"It's horrible": Branson business owner says downtown construction is hurting sales

BRANSON, Mo. -- The City of Branson announced on June 9 that they had completed Phase 1A of the Downtown Streetscape Project.

Phase 2 is now in effect, as construction crews are currently working on improvements for East Main Street. Phase 1 was for West Main Street.

While concerns were raised about the potential impact of the heavy construction on businesses along West Main, local business owners say they saw minimal disruption.

I spoke with Shannon Huen, owner of Snack Shack 76, who tells me that the opposite effect is happening with her business on East Main Street.

"We're having to change our hours," says Huen, "This is now the second time we've had to change our hours. So, we're confusing customers, and we've got people that are expecting to come."

Huen states she has received no communication from the City of Branson prior to the construction.

"I never even knew this was happening. I rented this building a year ago. My owners didn't know, my landlord didn't know, and we didn't know anything until they blocked off the roads up here," Huen says.

The construction has caused foot traffic in the area to diminish, which has severely impacted her sales.

"It's horrible. I have employees that are sitting at home that don't have jobs because I can't afford to pay them," Huen says. "So, we have a crew of about seven people, that it's just me and my general manager working right now nonstop. We're working the entire shifts."

Huen hopes that the city will communicate better with businesses on East Main.

The City of Branson had previously stated that they expect the project to be completed "no later than October 15" of this year.

For more information on the project, visit the city’s website.