Parking problems on P: One Lincoln business says construction project is hurting sales

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — It’s even harder to find parking now on an already busy downtown street.

Construction crews are taking up spots on P Street, right in front of local businesses.  The construction is being done for upgrades to Buffalo Wild Wings.

The Coffee House, which is right next door to the restaurant, is reminding customers that it’s still open, even if they have to park a little farther away.

“It might take a couple extra minutes, but we’d really appreciate it if people would budget their time for that,” owner Mark Shriner said. “That could be the difference between a small business staying in business throughout something like that or having to lay off staff or things like that.”

The construction crews will be there for another six weeks.

Shriner said this has a trickle-down effect.

“It impacts the employees’ tips, it impacts where our employees park and how many parking tickets they get, it impacts people who are even trying to walk around over to our store or the Running Company or wherever,” he said. “It’s just change, and change is difficult for people.”

Shriner and his wife said they are brainstorming ideas to entice customers to come despite the parking problem.

They’re considering discounts, specials and more social media outreach to make sure people aren’t turned away by the change in normalcy.

“I’m a habitual person; I think most people are,” Shriner said. “They wake up, they do the same thing every morning. And when that process gets broken, it’s difficult to bring those customers back. We’re trying to think of ways to let our customers know that it’s really important to us that they keep coming.”