Business owners at the northwest corner of West Ina and North Thornydale roads hope a new Walmart Neighborhood Market will help draw customers to the intersection.
For now, though, the Walmart's construction at 3820 W. Ina Road is having quite the opposite effect. Since August, a large swath of the parking lot has been shut down to allow for construction equipment, trailers and staging.
Steve Mendelsohn, owner of Billy Bryant's Bar-B-Q, said business - particularly during lunch - has plummeted 50 percent to 90 percent since construction started.
Larry Durgin, owner of Seville Cleaners, said business has slowed so much that if he were to consider closing any of his four locations - which he isn't - his Ina/Thornydale store would be first on the chopping block.
"The stories we were told is that Walmart will be God's gift to everyone in here," Durgin said, adding that he's reserving judgment on whether Walmart will be good or bad for business for when the store opens.
People are also reading…
Mendelsohn and Durgin said the lack of parking is causing myriad bottom-line-killing problems. Customers avoid the corner because it's difficult to navigate, and those who do venture in have to scrounge for parking.
Some customers who still visit the businesses are resentful, sometimes taking their frustration out on them.
Mendelsohn runs the restaurant with his wife, Karen.
"This is the time of year we'd like to hire help," but there's not enough business, Mendelsohn said. His restaurant is a true mom-and-pop, and he jokes to customers that the store coming in is "a mom-and-pop with a funny name, 'Walmart.' "
Mendelsohn said he's optimistic that Walmart will draw new customers to the intersection. He's happy it's a Neighborhood Market - one of Walmart's smaller, groceries-focused enterprises - rather than a Walmart Supercenter, which offers so many services that they could directly threaten nearby businesses.
There are currently five Walmart Neighborhood Markets in the Tucson area.
The one on West Ina is expected to open in February. At that point things could be looking up for businesses in the area.
"We can all hope and pray," Durgin said.
Contact reporter Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 or pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
