As Stoneham, Massachusetts, works to reshape part of the downtown area with a redesign, businesses are suffering. Some establishments are seeing up to a third of their usual business, and they will have to survive until work ends in June.
“We have probably closed between eight and nine days,” said Christine Carpentieri, owner of Christine’s Sweet Shoppe. “I support the town, I support the project, I support bettering Stoneham. It’s just, will we get there?”
By “get there,” she means to survive financially, saying the thought of it keeps her up at night. Some days, they don’t open until 5 p.m. to avoid construction…