Businesses anxious for San Jacinto reopening

reopening of san jacinto plaza can’t come soon enough for businesses in the area. abc-7’s darren is live there tonight. rick and estela, while some businesses down here have not survived the construction and all of its lenghty delays … many new businesses are anxiously awaiting the crowds they hope the new plaza will bring downtown. “so you guys have been here through the entire construction process?” “oh yeah, you can say that agai .” andres davila works at caf la malinche, relocated across from san jacinto plaza before construction began nearly 3 years ago. “we’ve been waiting for thi because we need more people to come.” “businesses that were her before the construction began, like la malinche, told me they lost about 50 percent of their customers initially … some of them have come back, however, they don’t expect all of them to come back until the plaza is complete.” “a lot of the streets are closed, a lot of people complaing that they don’t have any room, parking and they’re really excited for it to open.” francis luera is manager of the coffee box, established across from the plaza during its lengthy reconstruction. “a lot of stores closed and mostly because of the closing of the streets … all the businesses are anxious for it to open and we’re hoping the best.” “we thought it was a great idea to be here before everything finally opens up to the public and being able to add something unique to the area.” “anybody who’s gonna go through the growing pains of our downtown.” joe gudenrath is director of the downtown management district. “we’re very optimistic it wil pay off, that their contributions throughout the construction will be paid off as we welcome people to san jacinto plaza … this is the best known place in the entire city and it will live up to that reputation when it gets opened … i think it will be long forgotten the inconvenience we faced once we’re out there and using the plaza.” “i hope to see much more people over there than before.” “and much more people in here?” “in here, yeah, if they’re over there, they’re gonna come here.” gudenrath said san jacinto’s completion will increase the connectivity of downtown dramatically … along with other projects like the pedestrian pathway. rick/estela. let’s take you back outside where you saw the winds were blowing on nichole and darren,