By Ella Meis
OMAHA, Neb. — The Omaha streetcar project is moving forward, but businesses in the Blackstone District are paying the immediate price.
With the Farnam Street Bridge completely shut down for the next several months, the area’s usual hustle and bustle has been replaced by heavy machinery. Orange cones and chain-linked fences now mark the streetcar’s future path, creating unavoidable hurdles for businesses operating just steps away.
Aba Turner, a civil engineer with EGA Design, experiences the disruption daily at Ehrhart Griffin & Associates. She notes that the barricades and detours are creating a perfect storm for local shops.
“A lot of the small businesses throughout all of the streetcar route are really suffering because people can’t get there,” Turner said. “You have COVID that took everything out and people don’t go out and do things as much, and then you tack on… now it’s hard to get to those places.”
Just down the street, restaurants are feeling the direct impact. Muki, which is connected to Ika Ramen, sits practically empty most days as the construction continues.
However, some locals are holding out hope that the temporary pain will result in a major payoff. Chaske Rainbow, an employee at Ika Ramen, believes the streetcar will eventually become a major asset for smaller operations that rely on foot traffic.
“I do see the potential that this could bring some good news here and some good popularity,” Rainbow said, noting the project will help showcase the “really beautiful places down here.”
The Farnam Street closure is expected to last for several more months. We will keep you updated on how the city steps in to help these businesses bridge the gap until the tracks are laid.
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