L Train weekend shutdown leaves commuters and businesses frustrated
The work spans from Lorimer Street to Broadway Junction and is not expected to wrap until April.
Many businesses in Bushwick and Williamsburg are seeing far fewer customer due to the planned maintenance work on the L train line.
The work spans from Lorimer Street to Broadway Junction and is not expected to wrap until February.
Businesses like Hive Mind Books and Harmony Bushwick Thrift Shop say they've seen their foot-traffic slashed, as a key access point for customers has been removed for them.
"We love the L train... when it runs, we usually have about 50 people per day and it's been solidly less than half of that at least. People will go where the train takes them," said Harmony Bushwick Owner Christian Lee.
For Hive Mind books, even a 20% discount and multiple events have not been enough to make up for the lost sales.
"This is a space a lot of people value having, and to not be able to reach it, it really hurts a lot of the businesses, this is our busiest time," said Hive Mind employee M.C.
In an area known for nightlife, bars say they are also feeling the squeeze, combined with Dry January.
"Yeah, it's a big stretch, from Lorimer to Myrtle, especially if you are right off the L, but we are more a neighborhood place, and we try a lot on events," said Greg Diemond, owner of Honore Club.
Impacted businesses hope that with the service planned to be restored on Feb. 2, their usual sales and customers will return as well.
