Union Street business owners wary of proposed utility work

LYNN – Owners and managers of Union Street businesses said Monday they are on edge about news that one side of the busy downtown artery will be reduced to one lane of traffic for six months beginning in mid-April, if the City Council grants a permit to National Grid for underground utility work.”This is terrible news, regardless of what side of the street is going to be closed to traffic,” said Mahababui “Duke” Haque, owner of Union News and Tobacco shop at 250 Union, at the corner of Union and Silsbee streets. “This is going to hurt our business tremendously.”Haque, who has owned the store that is a popular spot for state lottery players for the past 10 years, said Monday he’s heard people talking about the planned utility work, but has not been informed by either the utility or the city about the project or how it would affect his business. He said he plans to attend the meeting at the end of the month to voice his concerns.Danilo Dirochez, owner of D’Leomar Restaurant at 228 Union, said he’s afraid to think about what six months of restricted traffic flow on Union will do to the eatery he’s operated for the past six years.”The winter was horrible with all the snow and we were counting on the summer for business to pick up, but with this work, I don’t see where anybody is going to park,” Dirochez said during a moderately busy afternoon at his restaurant Monday. “There are people who work in the downtown who will still come in, but if other customers can’t park anywhere, that’s not going to be good.”Workers at Pho Mihn Ky Vietnamese/Chinese Restaurant at 238 Union expressed similar concerns about the effect the road project will have on their restaurant, which was also filled with customers Monday afternoon. The workers, however, deferred comment to the business owner, who was unavailable Monday.It’s likely businesses along the opposite side of Union will be most affected, however, since the project to install a PVC-conduit and other equipment would require a 4-foot-wide trench predominantly on the south side.John Kahn is the manager of the landmark Caruso’s Pizza at 235 Union.”Of course it’s a concern if this is going to be for six months; it’s going to affect business,” Kahn said, adding he learned of the project in a letter mailed to the business a couple of weeks ago.The meeting between city officials, National Grid, Union Street businesses and residents and all others concerned about the project is planned for 7-9 p.m. March 31 at the Senior center, 8 Silsbee St.