In the aftermath of the 2020 Christmas Day bombing in Nashville, the area around Second Avenue downtown is undergoing construction to improve the area. However, businesses in the vicinity are concerned that their shops are not easily visible due to ongoing construction. Morgan Bell, a manager at Nashville Souvenirs, has observed that foot traffic has decreased significantly, with potential customers assuming that the area is closed due to barricades and fences.
The Nashville Downtown Partnership has attempted to mitigate this issue by placing banners encouraging people to “turn the corner” and visit businesses in the area. Despite these efforts, businesses such as Mattheessen’s dessert shop have still experienced a 40% decrease in sales compared to last year, even after a big Morgan Wallen show last weekend. Hunter Mattheessen expressed disappointment as he had hoped for an increase in customer traffic during the event.
Despite these challenges, businesses remain optimistic about improvements in the near future. The full project is expected to be completed by early next year, and part of the road will reopen in September during the busy summer tourist season. This will allow businesses to better cater to visitors and recover from the negative impact of ongoing construction on their sales.