Great Expectations

Joe's Sandwich Shop is just one of the businesses along Main Street struggling to survive until Metro gets its light rail line up and operating.

A A A Comments By Lauren Kern Thursday, Oct 11 2001

...continued from page 4

Despite the questions, few believe that Midtown's Main Street corridor will remain undeveloped forever. "But it may have to wait until some of the land prices come down," says Ziegler. "Or, alternatively, once the rail gets in there and the streets are no longer a mess and people can actually make it to the businesses, you can make the numbers work easier. People will pay higher rents if they're going to actually get a high volume of business."

But it will take time for the market to pull prices back down to a more reasonable level. And it will take time for Metro's light rail to prove itself with ridership numbers and pioneer developments. In the meantime, businesses like Joe's have a chance at keeping their heads above water -- that is, if they can keep their heads above the construction.

Main Street according to Metro.

Deron Neblett

Joe Hernandez hustles for more business. The Philadelphia cheese steak is on special.

More About

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Business is better at Joe's Sandwich Shop today, a Friday. The Boy Scouts of America office has put in an order for 30 sandwiches, and for a moment all five little tables in the shop are full. But Joe seems more distracted than usual, rubbing his chin and looking out the barred window. "Sometimes I get depressed," he says. "Don't put that -- people will think I'm crazy. Say that Joe's a happy-go-lucky guy."

Earlier this week, Metro had closed down Webster Street completely. Right in front of his shop. At lunchtime. Without even telling Joe. Today, Metro's community outreach department has called him to apologize, to invite him to a meeting of business owners, and to offer him free space in an advertising coupon booklet. Joe is grateful, but he wishes Metro had taken some of these steps months ago when the construction began -- and maybe waited until after lunch to close down his street.

Besides, there's more bad news. Joe can't open the second shop on Louisiana. It's too expensive, double his current rent. He just can't make the numbers work.

Joe already has had to lay off one of his three employees, and another one will have to go soon. He and his wife sit up nights talking about it. If worse comes to worst, the two of them will run the restaurant alone. At least they'll still have the business.

"They say it's going to get better," Joe says. "I'm already established here. I just have to hustle." He comes upon an idea. "You go see Joe, you get a bag of free chips with any sandwich. Put that in your article."

Check out this week's featured ad for News