Las Vegas Arts District business owners ask the city for relief as storm drain construction cuts into foot traffic

What happened

Several business owners in the Las Vegas Arts District have formally asked the city for help, saying ongoing construction and road closures are keeping customers away, KTNV reported. In an Oct. 30 letter to Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, the owners described falling foot traffic, sales and revenue during the work and asked the city to consider measures to help them get through it.

The construction is part of a city storm drain project. According to the city, the full project is expected to be finished by the end of 2027.

What business owners are reporting

A gallery's walk-in traffic drops sharply

Gary Conrad sent the letter on behalf of several Arts District businesses. He owns Conrad West Gallery with his wife, Claire Conrad. The letter says the gallery saw nearly a 90% decrease in foot traffic compared with September and October of last year, and that other businesses are reporting similar drops in visitors, sales and revenue.

Claire Conrad told KTNV the gallery's records show a steep decline in walk-in customers. She said the gallery usually draws both locals and tourists, and that tourists typically make up more of the daily walk-in traffic. "We couldn't be the only ones that are feeling the impact," she told the station.

A longtime business draws on reserves

Tina Spruell, who owns Artistic Iron Works, told KTNV her business has been in the Arts District for 25 years. She said the construction has made it harder for customers to reach the business and has forced her to dip into reserves to keep it running.

Spruell described having to reinvest in the company, which she said is 50 years old, as a first for the business. "This is the first time that we've had to, and it's very upsetting for me," she told the station.

How the city responded

Options under consideration

A city spokesperson responded to some of the concerns in a statement given after KTNV contacted the city. Options the city named include a possible extension of construction work hours and featuring downtown businesses on city social media accounts to encourage people to visit.

Steps already taken

The city said it has worked to keep the area reachable during construction. Those steps include alternative routes, subsidized employee parking and free lunch parking, according to the city.

The city also said access from Charleston Boulevard to southbound Commerce Street is expected to reopen Nov. 20. Residents following other downtown projects can find more coverage in our development section.

Why it matters

The owners' letter puts a number on how the construction has affected one Arts District business and says others are seeing similar declines. The city expects the storm drain project to be completed by the end of 2027, and business owners told KTNV their worry is lasting until the work is done.

Spruell said owners want the district to succeed once the work is complete. She described a goal of a place with art, food and entertainment "where you feel safe," and "that everybody wants to be here." The owners said they hope the city will offer more relief while construction goes on. For more on the area, see our neighborhoods coverage.

What to watch next

• Whether access from Charleston Boulevard to southbound Commerce Street reopens on Nov. 20, as the city expects.
• Whether the city adopts the relief measures it named, including possible extended construction hours and social media promotion of downtown businesses.
• How the city responds to the requests in the Oct. 30 letter sent to Councilwoman Olivia Diaz.
• Progress on the storm drain project, which the city expects to finish by the end of 2027.