Fulton businesses hurt during construction

Businesses along Business 54 say they were affected by the detour through the area because of construction of the roundabout.

Mark Archambault, owner of three businesses next to the north side of the roundabout, said he is relieved that traffic is flowing again.

During the six months of construction of the roundabout, Archambault said retail sales were down 75 percent at Par 5 Auto Sales, 70 percent at the Market liquor store and 20 percent at Arris Pizza and Pub.

"I lost about $300,000 in auto sales at Par 5 Auto," Archambault said. "We normally have 11,000 to 13,000 cars pass Par 5 Auto every day. During the first phase of construction that went down to about 100 cars a day and during the last phase there was zero traffic.

"Friday afternoon was like a breath of fresh air. Suddenly cars were coming by the business. We even sold a couple of cars."

Angela Hawkins, area manager of both Subway restaurants in Fulton, said the Subway restaurant next to the north side of the roundabout lost a substantial amount of business because traffic through the area decreased dramatically.

Access to the restaurant at 204 Market St. near the roundabout remained open but Hawkins said traffic along Business 54 was detoured around the restaurant. "We were down about $5,000 a week in sales during construction," Hawkins said.

Hawkins said the other Subway restaurant on North Bluff Street in Fulton gained about $2,000 a week in sales while the roundabout was under construction.

"We are glad that the construction is over and that they met their goal of opening the new roundabout to traffic before Christmas," Hawkins said.

Lisa McIntire, general manager of McDonald's in Fulton, said the restaurant just south of the roundabout lost from 10 to 15 percent of its normal business.

McIntire said the loss was not as great as it could have been because shortly after the detour was put in place they advertised in The Fulton Sun "A Big Mac for $1 - if you can find us."

"Business picked up Friday afternoon just as soon as the roundabout opened," McIntire said.