The works surrounding the Mérida Gastronomic and Tourist Corridor affect businesses, as sales have decreased in places such as Santa Ana and the Paseo de Montejo auction, according to business owners in the area.
“It affects us quite a bit that the streets are closed, this has been going on for more than four months and they (the city government) have said something else and I don’t think they will stop for now,” said Jael Arjona Puga, from the Torres lonchería, in the Santa Ana market.
“It was going to be two months and (now), according to the engineers, because we ask every now and then, it will be on December 8, but sales dropped about 30 percent.”
“There are days when we have to close because of the dust and it is not only uncomfortable for customers but for the business,” he stressed.
There is already notable progress in the works, but merchants affirm that they have not yet perceived a recovery in the influx of customers.
“Yes, it was a necessary change, but on the economic side it hit us, although we think that in the long term, it will benefit us,” acknowledged Claudio Palmerina, waiter of the Impala coffee shop, located at 47th and 56th streets of Paseo de Montejo.
“Sales did go down, we closed in August and as soon as we could open, in October. “It is not yet seen as a complete road, but rather as a work in which there is no pedestrian crossing.”
“For example, the division of the entire restaurant was affected, the tables should be on one side, but if we put them there, we block the way,” he added.
“Those who usually come are female tourists, but bricklayers harass the women a lot and it is uncomfortable and they don’t pass anymore either, especially because those men say offensive things to them,” he regretted.
Janei Castañeda Pérez, from the Riqueza cafeteria, located on 60th Street, agreed that due to the dust and construction work, customers cannot arrive.
“And there is nowhere to park, that’s why they avoid passing by, they had told us in four months (they would finish), but time continues to pass,” he indicated.
“It affects us a lot, sales dropped by 30 percent. They told us that it should be finished by December” Some workers commented that there is no deadline to complete the work because the project is divided into sections belonging to different construction companies.
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