In East Austin, a local business owner is expressing her concerns about the adverse effects of nearby construction on her restaurant’s customer access and overall sales. Mary Jenkins, the proprietor of Cenote, has described the situation as increasingly challenging since construction commenced.
Jenkins, who has dedicated over a decade to serving the East Austin community through her establishment, has reported a significant decline in business over the past two weeks due to construction activities that have obstructed access to her restaurant. “It’s been devastatingly slow these past two weeks for us. I mean, it’s painful,” she stated.
Since its opening in 2012, Cenote has been a staple on East 7th Street. However, Jenkins recently discovered that the lot behind her restaurant is being transformed into a charging station for Robo Taxis. Compounding the issue, the alleyway that customers typically use to reach her parking lot has been closed off for two weeks, coinciding with a period that is usually busy for the restaurant.
“It’s closed weekdays until about 3 or 4 p.m., and then they reopen it. That’s our busiest time of day. It’s crucial for customers to easily drop in for a quick to-go order or coffee on their way to work or during lunch breaks,” Jenkins emphasized, noting that the lack of access has severely impacted her business.
The parking lot’s closure is particularly concerning for Jenkins, as it is included in her high rent payment. While alternative parking options exist nearby, they often come with a fee or are difficult to locate, which deters potential customers. “It feels like we’re not even open for business because our customers can’t get to us and park close by,” she lamented.
Given that this time of year is already slow for the service industry, Jenkins believes that the alley closure exacerbates the challenges she faces. In light of the situation, she has turned to social media to rally support from the community and has reached out to her city council member for assistance. Despite her efforts, she has noted that the financial repercussions are already taking a toll. “We could have closed down for a week and given everybody a paid vacation, and it probably would have been less expensive than staying open and being slow,” she reflected.
Furthermore, Jenkins has filed a report with the local 311 service to document her concerns. In response to the situation, inquiries have been made to Austin Transportation and Public Works to gather more information regarding the ongoing construction.
