‘I don’t know if we’ll make it’: Local Lincoln restaurant feeling the brunt of road construction

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN-TV) —  One local Mexican restaurant is asking for community support.

Right now, Pancho Villa Mexican Grill says that in the past couple of months, their business has declined roughly 75%. They believe it’s largely due to construction at the corner of 56th Street and Cornhusker Highway.

“I believe we sold $47 on Wednesday. It was really rough,” said Lisa Santana, the owner of the restaurant.

The project began in the early spring. According to LTU, it’s an improvement project that stretches nearly two miles on Cornhusker Highway from 37th to 56th streets.

“With us being in a location that’s hidden already, the construction is blocking off all three areas,” said Santana.

The Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department says it’s been in contact with Pancho Villa and has responded to Channel 8 with a statement.

“We are committed to working with all of our residents and businesses as we continue to improve street infrastructure in all quadrants of the city.”

Lisa and her husband, Eli, have owned the restaurant for 16 years, and it is their only source of income. So, they then took to Facebook in hopes of garnering more customer support.

“It’s rough right now, but it’s just nice knowing we have support,” Santana said.

According to LTU, the project is estimated to be complete by winter.

“If business continues this way, I don’t know if we’ll make it.”

But Lisa and Eli will keep working hard, the only way they know how.

“Just trying to do the best we can to be here, and wait on people the best we can, and hopefully stay in business.”

LTU says they have already connected with Pancho Villa and created a plan of action that reads below:

• We are working to ensure access to the business is maintained through the project
• Maps for customers to navigate the construction to and from the restaurant
• We plan to drop off a Construction Roadmap Guide at the business to assist with expectations and ideas to assist with keeping customers flowing
• We plan to drop off a Downtown Lincoln Association Marketing Tips Guide to assist with additional ideas
• We are encouraging the business to fill out a permit to place promotional yard signs in the right-of-way to attract additional customers during construction
• We are working on creating banners to attach to nearby barricades that say “Businesses are Open.” These are expected to be delivered sometime in July.