The concrete barriers on King St. W. have been removed, but the increase in traffic isn't expected to bring in a whole lot more business.
Now that the road is fully open and parking spaces are available again, some business owners say the barriers didn't impact their businesses to begin with, so the number of customers seen in a day will likely stay the same.
"[With] my business I've done double digit increases every year for eight years," says Paul Shettell owner of the Downtown Deli. "It has not affected me negatively."
Down the street from the Deli is Bella Chocolatier, Edible Fruit Arrangements. Owner Anne-Marie Ceccacci also says business has stayed the same, despite the downtown congestion caused by the barriers.
In fact, Ceccacci's says they've seen an increase in the number of customers this year.
"Actually we've had a fantastic year, this has been our best year," says Ceccacci. "We've been in downtown Chatham for ten years and it has been readily growing every year."
Although Ceccacci doesn't expect the conditions of King St. to draw in more customers, she says it's good for the downtown core in general.
