Cape Coral hardware store hindered by construction

Reporter: Samantha Johns Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published: Updated:

Construction is causing a big headache for Family Hardware, a Cape Coral business with its front parking lot completely blocked off from road access.

Currently, the only way to get to Family Hardware, located at 622 SE 4th Terrace, is by driving through an alley behind the building. The construction along Southeast 47th Terrace started Wednesday morning and immediately halted business.

“We’ve basically been shut down for the day,” said Clete Helton, owner of Family Hardware.

Helton sells tools for a living, but the construction has cut him off from his customers. Gregg Pits is one of very few who found his way inside.

“I thought the store was open,” Pits said. “It was a little confusing where I was gonna park when I went down behind the store here.”

Helton says he’s very worried about how much this construction project will cost him.

“We woke up this morning, and we have an entire road crew blocking the entire entry of our store,” Helton said. “It’s been, as you can see, a bit of business interruption.”

Helton says he had no idea the construction crews would be out there on Wednesday. A Cape Coral spokesperson tells WINK that the city shared a notice with affected businesses on Tuesday, outlining the details of the project.

The project itself is not Helton’s issue, it’s the timing.

“We had too little or no opportunity to accommodate our clients,” Helton said. “We received notice that it was going to happen by a pamphlet that was dropped off at our store at day’s end [Tuesday].”

Helton said he never figured the work would prevent customers from entering the parking lot.

Greg Pitts is one of a handful who made it to the store by using the back alley. “I had to drive around and park over here on the side. It was inconvenient.”

The City of Cape Coral said the project would last through January. Crews are installing a force main transmission pipeline.

“We understand that this is an important function that the city is performing,” said Helton.

Not knowing what the work would do to his business and his lack of time to prepare his customers is his issue.

Helton hopes the city will provide more notice next time. “Certainly more than seven or eight-hour notice.”

The city said it sent a notice warning of the construction late Tuesday afternoon.

Despite the noise, Helton said his store will remain open as usual.

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