Area Businesses Take Hit As City Works To Fix Sinkhole In Royal Oak
ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - A sinkhole the size of a swimming pool is keeping northbound Main Street closed past 12 Mile road in Royal Oak, and that's putting a hole in the bottom line of nearby businesses.
Shane Macbeth was managing the National Coney Island restaurant where the sinkhole developed and broke a gas line, forcing the evacuation of the building for several hours.
"Yesterday we weren't as busy as we usually are," said Macbeth, "Friday we took a huge hit because we didn't get open again until after midnight - so from 3 p.m. to midnight on a Friday, when we are usually jamming, no business at all."
Macbeth said not only was business a concern but also the safety of customers.
"I was just worried about drunk people walking over here and falling in the hole," he said of the late night crowd that comes to the restaurant from a nearby dance club.
Macbeth said city crews were stabilizing the sinkhole Sunday, but no word yet when it will be completely repaired so northbound Main Street can re-open to traffic.