TROY – There is new blacktop, shiny new blacktop and new sidewalks on Campbell Avenue in Troy, and people are passing through once again. Some store owners are trying to make up for lost business.

The new owner of Chicken Joe’s says they have been slow to bounce back from the road shutdown that affected foot traffic and deliveries.

Next door at Ivy Nails Spa, they were hit hard during the summer months, when they are usually busiest.

“But when the road reopened, the summer is almost over. It doesn’t make sense,” said Lito Ronio, the owner’s husband.

The shelves at DeMeo’s liquor store are usually full. The owner says trucks just haven’t been able to get here. They’re getting a delivery Wednesday.

“We took a very large hit,” said owner Anthony DeMeo. “It’s difficult enough operating a brick and mortar business post-COVID. Trends have changed, shopping trends have changed. With such an obstacle like the entire road being closed with limited access for such a long time, that was pretty devastating, not only to me, but some of the other businesses in the stretch of road also.”

City leaders say it wasn’t just road surface along such a busy corridor, that they improved drainage and put in new sidewalks with ADA-compliant ramps.

At Inferno Pizza, they said business has been great since the road reopened. Owner Nick Riggione says that it was a struggle for a couple of months, but deliveries eased the pain.

“I’m thrilled. The road was never looking this good,” said Riggione. “And you know Kumi, in the past, they always closed down the road a couple times a year because of major flooding. So the administration did a great job. It wasn’t just a mill-and-fill. They had to really dig deep and change out the pipes in the new sewer lines. So we’re happy with it.”