With the Lucinda Avenue construction project well underway, some area businesses are seeing a drop in summer sales.

The change in traffic patterns, due to the road being open only to westbound traffic, has hurt a number of businesses in the Village Commons Shopping Center.

Richard Boardman, general manager of Village Commons Bookstore, said, “Our walk-in business has been hurt significantly. Aside from book rush, when people needed to come in, they just don’t pass by the store.”

Hot Spot Manager Asif Quddus said he felt his business was down 40 to 50 percent from last summer. Quddus said he put up a banner in an attempt to attract customers, but he believes most people feel it is just too inconvenient to come in. The Hot Spot also has had problems with delivery trucks due to the construction.

Kinkos Copies is trying to accommodate its customers by adding to its services. Kinkos Manager Derek Fenwick said he has received complaints from customers about how difficult it is to get to the store. As a result, Kinkos is encouraging use of its pick-up and delivery services.

“Construction happens everywhere,” Fenwick said. “We’re just trying to deal with it as best we can.”

So far, the Holmes Student Center Bookstore has been perhaps the least affected of all businesses disturbed by the Lucinda Avenue construction.

Mitch Kielb, director of the HSC Bookstore, said, “It’s hard to say we’ve been hurt by this.”

Kielb said he is more concerned about what will happen to business in the fall. The Huskie Bus system is expected to use the library as its main campus pick-up rather than the HSC. Kielb said he feels that with students not waiting for the buses outside the bookstore, its fall sales might suffer.

Joel Maurer, assistant city engineer of DeKalb, said the road should be open to traffic in both directions by Nov. 24. Final work, including blacktop, sodding and sidewalk repairs are scheduled for spring 1994.