A Walpole business owner says sales are down during what should be the busiest time of year due to a state road project that cut off power to the store outside, signage and parking, leaving the property in the dark later in the day.
Power to lamp posts and a large sign near Watson's Candies remains out even as work on Walpole's Highway 1A improvement project nears completion.
“At our busiest time of year, people drive by and they say, 'Oh, they shouldn't be open.' So they just drive by us,” said Michelle Feagle, manager of Watson's Candies. “And it’s hard to attract new customers when we just look like a closed building, especially right after Daylight. [Saving Time]”
The $20 million Massachusetts Department of Transportation project began in April 2021, and contractor MDR Construction was initially expected to complete it by November 17, 2025.
The ongoing project has added sidewalks and bike lanes, repaved roads and expanded accessibility, among other improvements.
Businesses and commuters along the corridor have endured traffic jams and detours for years.
But as the project wraps up, Watson's Candies owner Virginia Tracy told Boston 25 News that sales at the 93-year-old chocolate store continue to lag even during the winter holiday season.
“I definitely felt in every relationship, every holiday, every season that we had to go through because of this [construction]a big drop in our sales,” Tracy said. – I want to stay here. I want him to thrive here.”
MassDOT told Boston 25 News in a statement Friday that workers discovered some unexpected problems during construction, including electrical components for parking lot lighting that did not meet current codes and needed to be upgraded.
“Additionally, we are working to address the issue of water intrusion that impacts the lighting power source,” said Communications Director Marshall Hook. “This issue is expected to be resolved soon.”
MassDOT said it “understands that construction may be disruptive to local businesses, and therefore we are taking steps to minimize any impacts to the greatest extent possible.”
Tracy and Feagle said they have contacted the state and contractor over the years to inquire about timelines for restoring power and repainting parking lot lines.
Tracy said she has concerns about the safety of the parking lot at Scoops, an adjacent ice cream store that is open during the summer months.
“Every child wants to play when they eat ice cream, and it's not safe to be there in pitch darkness,” Tracy said. “The whole parking lot is full of cars. You don't know where your kids are because you can't see anything.”
MassDOT said it is working on several requests to change the parking layout.
“These modifications are currently under development and will be presented to business owners for review to ensure they meet their needs,” Hook said.
While visiting Walpole businesses, Massachusetts Sen. Mike Rush and other elected officials visited Watson's Candies on Friday and expressed their support, Feagle said.
“We're very hopeful,” Feagle said. “But unfortunately, after the last few years, you have to remain sort of 'hoping for the best, expecting the worst.'
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available.
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