The construction is brutal in Marda Loop right now but it's not the sole reason some of these places are failing.
Doodle Dogs opened 1 block away from another pet store that had been in the neighborhood for years. And they signed the lease after construction had already started. Not the best location to choose it turns out.
I remember APT 22 bragging about how in Marda Loop they could lease a space double the size of their space in the Beltline and within a year they were blaming construction for their store closing, and not the fact that there were already two well established consignment stores close by that offered the same for less money with loyal clientele.
Phil and Sebastian has seen significant competition enter the neighbourhood and they are losing customers because the other coffee shops are where people are choosing to go.
Most of the small businesses a couple blocks down from the places complaining are thriving, and they faced the same construction challenges along the way.
|