Downtown vendors in Las Cruces say business might suffer during construction

It was a warm summer Wednesday afternoon, with the thermometer slowly climbing toward the triple digit mark.

A couple dozen vendors in downtown Las Cruces began to pack up their booths as dozens of cars passed by, diverted to Main Street amid the heavy construction on Church Streets and Water Streets.

“It kind of hurts a little when the traffic has slowed down and people can’t get in as easily,” said Carol Ayon, a vendor since November..

Ayon sells an abundance of items, including rings made from her husband’s worn down guitar strings.

“It’s slowed down a little bit of our traffic,” Ayon said. “I know some of the heat has something to do with it too.”

Rob Hinton, a vendor of three years, agrees with Ayon.

“I don’t think they, the city, in its infinite wisdom really thought about the way that it’s impacting businesses downtown,” Hinton said.

Hinton’s business is called “Matthew’s Magnets,” named after his grandson.

“He’s four-and-a-half years old,” Hinton said. “He’s the CEO and I do this to make money for his college fund.”

Hinton has a unique name for the construction.

“The road destruction – and that’s what I call it – destruction,” Hinton said. “Because it takes forever to get to the point where they’re doing construction.”

Russ Smith, a vendor of nine years, disagrees completely. He sold out of chicken on the warm Wednesday afternoon.

“Road closures has not changed business for us at all,” Smith said.

Russ and his wife Mercy, happily packed away their food truck after a great day of business.

“People are still hungry,” Smith said. “There’s a community of offices nearby that are served by our products and our delivery.”