Wilsher Plaza Businesses' Plight Frustrates Locals

A story earlier this week about struggling businesses in Wilshir Plaza due to the one-two punch of the last year's Union Pacific bridge collapse and ongoing Willow Road construction drew sympathy from readers. 

"This is so incredibly sad!," wrote Curious Resident. "Why in the world would Northbrook and Glenview agree to let the Willow construction at Shermer and Willow continue when we have this bridge dilema. ... Fed up with northbrook and glenview making terrible decisions for their citizens."

Anne wrote, "I was told the Willow Rd construction is a 2 year project. That is a long, long time to be killing the businesses we have there."

Reader Jennifer Speer Hanskat said she goes out of her way to patronize the Subway there, whose owner, Jashwan Patel, is quoted in the article saying, "We're barely surviving. ... It's getting really bad. I'm getting worried."

Hanskat wrote, "Whenever we want Subway we make it a point to go to that one, regardless of how hard it is to get there. Of all the Subways around the area, this one has the nicest employees who really care about customer service."

Missy Wilson Taki said she's unable to spend her money at those businesses right now. "My job requires me to drive all day back and forth through Northbrook and Glenview," she wrote. "My work is time-specific, appointments. I'd love to shop at the restaurants in this center, but due to the fact that I'd be late for every appointment, I avoid that area like the plague." 

How has the construction changed your shopping pattern in this area? Let us know in the comments below.