Zen Coffee's on Farnam is surrounded by jackhammers and orange cones as streetcar construction continues to disrupt business in downtown Omaha.
The coffee shop is located in "the Quarters" section of streetcar construction, where part of the street lanes remain closed with no immediate end in sight. Owner Abbey McLeahy says it's typically the perfect spot for people heading in and out of downtown to grab a latte and a quick bite, but detours are causing regulars to look elsewhere.
"From a sales perspective, it's definitely dropped significantly," McLeahy said.
The city says crews are relocating gas lines, sewer connections, and electrical work. Manager Clara Mahler says the work has forced the store to close on multiple occasions.
"We've had gas line breaks, water main breaks, and thin