Linden Hills businesses languishing under road construction delays now targeted in string of burglaries
MINNEAPOLIS — Small business owners in Linden Hills are exhausted after lagging construction and a string of burglaries.
The city of Minneapolis and Metro Transit are working on sewer, water main and new bus line construction near 43rd Street and Upton Avenue.
Business owners say they were told the construction would be wrapped mid-summer, but now the deadline has shifted towards sometime this fall. Owners say they are dealing with a 30%-50% financial loss.
"It's been a challenge, of course. You can't park nearby, you can't get through the street. But it's worth the walk," Suzie Marty, the owner and curator of Everett and Charlie said.
Marty was hoping to make lemons into lemonade and remodel during the slow burn. But last week, someone broke in while she was away and stole thousands of dollars of merchandise.
"It's salt in the wound," Marty said. "Just one more hurdle that we don't need and it's hard. It's exhausting. I'm emotionally and psychologically and financially drained to be honest with you. It's just too much this summer. Way too much."
It isn't the only recent burglary. Picnic Linden Hills, a bar and restaurant down the street, was broken into last week. It's frustrating for Andrew "Kitz" Kitzenberg, who opened the bar and restaurant with his wife in late March.
"The construction and some of the obstacles that we've faced in the first has been challenging," he said.
Fresh asphalt and an open intersection on 43rd Street and Upton Avenue gives Kitzenberg a sign of hope.
"With the road open, it kind of fees like the world is our oyster here," Kitzenberg said.
The open road makes Kitzenberg excited for the future — like an Ocktoberfest celebration. He's grateful for the community that's supported Picnic.
"For the one person who came by and broke into our place, we have hundreds of others who support our restaurant," he said.
Small business owners say the best way to support them during this tough time is to come shop, visit and eat in Linden Hills.
It's not clear if there is any connection between the two incidents. Both Marty and Kitzenberg filed police reports.