LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Taquero Mucho 3 is four blocks from I-65 at West Oak Street and Second Street. They see a healthy amount of passersby drop in.
Manager Luis Ramirez said the restaurant’s busiest times have been breakfast and lunch, but he’s already seen changes this week, with business slowing down as people prepare for the I-65 closure on June 1.
“Many people try to get another route, another way. It’s kind of hard,” he said.
Taquero Mucho 3 has been open for about six months. Ramirez said it’s gotten that new-business bump, but he worries it could drastically slow down with the highway closure.
“I’m trying to do my best and hopefully the people see us and take another route to come here to support small business,” he said.
If business slows down significantly, Ramirez said the restaurant will have to cut back on how many days a week it is open.
This is just one restaurant concerned about the impacts of the closure.
Beth Sarkar, senior vice president of local growth at One Louisville has been consistently talking with small business owners about their concerns. The group has been providing tools to stay visible.
“One Louisville has on their website a toolkit for businesses to go on there to learn how to tell their business is still open, to update their Google pages and communicate alternate routes,” she said.
Sarkar said while there are going to be temporary problems, the project will be better for the city in the long run.
“We’ve really encouraged people to visit these businesses within the construction area,” she said. “They still need us. They need to stay open, and we want to support them the best way we can.”
Sarkar said it is hard to know the full extent of the impact this project will have on businesses. She said officials will have to wait and see how things play out.