ESTES PARK, Colo. (KDVR) — Construction is underway to reconfigure the street layout of downtown Estes Park, and a business owner said they are losing customers with half the street torn up.

Currently, half of Elkhorn Avenue is business as usual. But on the other side, at least one store owner is concerned that business is down because people may not want to fight through the construction.

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“We’ve been in Estes for nine years now,” said Nicole Gatsiopoulos, owner of Three Blessed Gems in Estes Park.

And in that time, she said the store has endured hardships before.

“We’ve gone through challenges and we’ve been able to make it and, you know, we’re just finding now this to be a particularly hard year,” Gatsiopoulos said.

Construction on the road and sidewalk is right in front of the store, which she said has caused a hit to typical sales since work began last year.

“We’re looking at anywhere from 30% to 60% down,” Gatsiopoulos said.

Estes Park project team responds

FOX31 contacted the town of Estes Park, which pointed to the Downtown Estes Park Project Team for comment.

The team said it has talked to Three Blessed Gems about the situation.

“The business owner has been contacted directly, in person by multiple members of the project delivery team, including the Town of Estes Park Public Works Director, all whom explained the work to take place in front of the business and associated timeframes for sidewalk completion,” the team said in a statement to FOX31. “The Contractor, understanding the businesses’ concerns regarding impacts, has changed their working hours so they could remove and reconstruct the sidewalk at off hours. This was personally relayed to the business owner by members of the Contractor staff.”

Gatsiopoulos does not feel that is enough.

“We’ve had some people say they’ve come here every year for 30-plus years, and this will be the first year they’re missing it because they don’t want to deal with it,” she said.

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The Downtown Estes Park Project Team said, in part: “We understand that a project of this magnitude can be impactful. When completed, the improved traffic flow and infrastructure will benefit residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

With construction expected to last through the store’s busiest time of year in the summer, Gatsiopoulos worries open signs along Elkhorn Avenue may soon turn off for good.

“The reality of it possibly not being what it normally is is scary,” she said.

The project is expected to finish in January 2025.

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