‘I can’t pay the rent.’ Broadway construction forces Marble Hill businesses to shut their doors
Merchants say barriers erected by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority block storefront visibility, eliminate parking and make deliveries nearly impossible.
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Construction along Broadway meant to repair the 1 train tracks is taking a heavy toll on small businesses in Marble Hill, with shop owners saying the yearlong project has driven customers away and forced some stores to shut their doors permanently.
At Marea Fish Market, a sign taped to the window reads, “We will be closed from Jan. 12 to Jan. 19.”
For owner Alexander Cruz, it was a decision he tried to avoid for months.
Now, just days into the closure, he says it will not be temporary.
“I can’t pay the rent, electricity or the gas,” Cruz said. “I owe almost three months now.”
Cruz is one of three business owners on a single block who say they have been forced to close since construction began last year along Broadway.
Merchants say barriers erected by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority block storefront visibility, eliminate parking and make deliveries nearly impossible.
“Sometimes it takes one week, and we don’t even see one customer,” said Hussein Awawda, manager of Rio Furniture, which has operated in the neighborhood for nearly 20 years.
He said the current conditions mark the toughest period the business has faced.
Awawda said delivery drivers often cannot find legal parking and leave without unloading merchandise, costing the store sales.
In some cases, he said, drivers park illegally and receive tickets just to complete deliveries.
“We receive stuff from the company. When they come here, they don’t find parking, they take the stuff back and you lose a customer,” Awawda said.
Similar problems are affecting nearby delis and food shops.
Aziz Alsaidi, a deli manager, said suppliers are refusing to deliver altogether.
“This week, I missed three deliveries because they don’t want to deliver to us anymore,” Alsaidi said, pointing to empty shelves.
Business owners say the construction has dragged on too long and are urging the MTA to increase staffing to speed up the work.
“If they were all working, they would finish the job fast and it wouldn’t hurt us,” Awawda said.
Merchants plan to meet with MTA officials next week to ask whether construction equipment can be moved to the opposite side of the street, where apartment buildings are located.
They say the change could restore foot traffic, allow deliveries and prevent more closures.
In a statement, the MTA said, “A better Marble Hill–225 St station benefits the entire community. MTA representatives met with community stakeholders prior to the start of this project and will continue open conversations on project milestones as it progresses.”
