OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Streetcar construction in Omaha is meant to boost business — but for many, it’s having the opposite effect.

“I thought the COVID was bad… COVID has nothing on this,” said Bill Baburek, owner of Crescent Moon.

“What am I supposed to do? Just slowly go into more debt?” added Shannon Beck, owner of Nodest Home Plants.

Business owners along the construction route say the project is driving customers away. Some, like Bad Seed Coffee and Supply, have already closed their doors.

“We’ve had a really hard year trying to balance those things… and we’ve had to stare down this outcome a couple of different times,” said Brenna and Matt McCrary, owners of Bad Seed.

The Harney Street bridge construction left them no choice but to shut down.

“We are really sad, you know. There

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