NEW CASTLE Downtown endures repairs of roads

The work should be done by mid-November.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- As the lunch hour approaches, customers trickle in one by one to Marc's Cafe on the corner of North Mill and North streets.
"Man, this is stressful," says one woman as she walks in the door.
Outside bulldozers move dirt and gravel within just a few feet of the small delicatessen's picture window where there is no longer a street.
"Welcome to Baghdad," said cafe owner Marc Galizia, jokingly.
Since construction started three weeks ago on the one-block section of North Mill Street, from North to Falls streets, Galizia estimates his business is down by about 80 percent.
"I knew it was my turn, but I didn't think it would be this bad," he said.
Galizia's neighbors, Billie Rodgers and Tom Natale at The House of Music, say their business has been nonexistent since the street work started.
"Absolutely nothing," Rodgers said. "We've spent at least one whole week where we had no business at all."
The House of Music sells instruments and offers lessons. Rodgers said business is so bad that they've decided to just close. A sign in the store window instructs patrons to call the couple at home for help.
"We knew the street was going to be closed," Rodgers said. "We knew there were going to be repairs, but we were under the impression there would be access to our store. It's very dangerous."
A gravel walkway, just a few feet wide, is the only access to their store. Rodgers said that was only put in place in the last week.
Complaints
The street work is part of the city's $10 million downtown redevelopment project to resurface streets and replace sidewalks and utilities.
North Mill Street is the last area of work in this phase of redevelopment and should be finished sometime in mid-November, city officials say.
Business owners on North Street, just west of the most recent construction, say the past month has been tough.
"I haven't had one customer today or yesterday," said Ralph Snyder, owner of Synder's Antiques & amp; Porcelain Dolls, on Tuesday. "We used to be busy."
Nancy Thomas opened her shop, the Friendly Gift Shop II, last month, unaware of the city's plans to resurface the street.
"I had three sales last week," she said. "You can't survive on that."
Both add the recent closing of Sghetti's restaurant across the street has also affected their businesses. The restaurant has moved to a new location.
Good for business
Others on the street agree business has been slow, but longtime business people say it's not a problem.
Barber Phil Sunseri, who has been there since 1963, said some of his older customers haven't been coming to the shop, but he's still working.
"Everybody has to take their turn," he said referring to work on other downtown streets. "It's affected my business, but it's not going to put me out."
Judy Pacelli at the Book Nook, a used book store on the corner of North and Mercer streets, said business has been off slightly, but she supports the city's work.
"I feel the construction has to be done. They are trying to fix the town up," said Pacelli whose been in that location for 22 years.
Rusty Florence is just preparing to open his tattoo parlor, Liquid Ink, on North street, and he believes the street construction has actually helped.
"With the street being closed, people have to walk by. I think that's been for our benefit," he said. He adds that he has a loyal clientele from other tattoo parlors where he worked in the past and doesn't expect the street closure to hinder business.
A few doors down in the Temple Building, Sandie Simon and Peggy Gibbons say their businesses are slow. Simon owns Silk Floral Designs/Country Gift Shop, and Gibbons sells Avon.
Stimulating business
The street work, coupled with the bad economy, hasn't helped, Simon said.
Both women say they've joined the newly formed Downtown Business Association in an effort to help stimulate business. They say they'd also like to see more support from the city in the form of free parking days or other incentives to bring people downtown.
"It's a mindset we have to change," Simon said. "I'd like to see the city do more to change that mind-set."
DBA President Mike Mancuso said his group is trying to help the North Street businesses. They changed the route of the upcoming downtown light-up night parade Nov. 20 to include North Street.
He believes as more businesses join the DBA, the city will be more responsive to their needs.
Mayor Timothy Fulkerson said he understands the frustration of the business owners, but there is little the city can do. He noted they are trying to expedite construction.
"They aren't having any harder a time than any other business downtown," he said. "There is no other way of doing [the construction]. Let's hope a little bit of pain will go to a lot of gain."
cioffi@vindy.com