Small businesses feel pinch as KUB shuts down road [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – For weeks, Sutherland Avenue has been shutdown to thru traffic while Knoxville Utility Board contractors service a 17-foot deep mainline storm sewer.

The stretch of road that is shut down is from Liberty Street to Division Street and stops all car and foot traffic from easily accessing the businesses along the stretch of road.

”A lot of these other small businesses unfortunately aren’t getting their normal amount of business coming through here,” said Jade Dembo, the owner of Whimsy Emporium.

Dembo just bought the property and is holding off on an opening day as construction continues.

”It was honestly, it was disheartening at first,” said Dembo.

The day before Dembo planned to open, she told WVLT she received notice that the road in front of her business was about to be shut down until mid-April.

”So that was, that was a surprise,” said Dembo.

KUB officials told WVLT News in a release they began notifying …