Businesses that have not suffered from the demolition are hoping the new parking lot will bring in even more revenue while businesses that are suffering have high hopes their business will at least return to normal.
Joe Grant, owner of the hot dog stand on the corner of East Van Buren and North First streets, said he has found the demolition to be beneficial to his business.
“It has really helped me because the construction workers have become my regulars,” Grant said.
The Chicago-style hot dog stand also has spectators who come to see the hotel being torn down to thank for his recent revenue increase, Grant said.
The demolition of the Ramada Inn, built in 1956, has stirred up mixed emotions around Phoenix; many spectators have been drawn downtown to voice their opinions and see the old hotel before it is completely gone.
The recent rodent sightings at the College of Nursing and Health Innovation and at Taylor Place have surprisingly not had any impact on Grant’s business.
“I have not seen any rodents around here and neither have the construction workers that buy my hot dogs,” he said.
Starbucks is another business that has not been harmed by the Ramada Inn construction site or the recent rodent scare.
“Business keeps going up every day and we have not seen any negative impact on our business from the site at all,” barista Cassidy Heiner said.
Grant said he recalls the hotel being a “sore thumb” in the city and only expects business to keep increasing with the parking lot that is being constructed to take its place.
The parking lot will not only be a positive change for the city landscape, Grant said, but it will also make it easier for traffic to stop, park and visit businesses in the area.
Others are not so quick to praise the new parking lot and cannot wait for the construction, which began in September, to end. Then their regulars will return and visitors don’t have to avoid a messy area.
Martin Lechuga, the manager of Sonoma Casual Dining, said he blames his sudden business slow on the city’s “eye sore”.
“I think that people are avoiding this area because of the mess, and hopefully when it is over we will get more business again,” Lechuga said.
Contact the reporter at ammarty@asu.edu
