NJ businesses around I-80 sinkhole get creative to get customers in
MINE HILL TOWNSHIP, N.J. (PIX11) - It's not Nick Crupi's normal bagel spot, but after hearing what Pop's Bagel Shop and so many other businesses in Wharton are going through, he drove over from Randolph to support them.
"Just trying to help the guy out," said Crupi. "There's no business because of the traffic."
It's that kind of help that goes a long way for Pop's, but what would help even more is having a slice of millions of dollars in relief grants and loans.
"Our profit margins are real thin at this point," said Yazan Muheisen, owner of Pop's Bagel Shop.
Muheisen got word Friday morning of a plan for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to enact a $5 million relief grant program for impacted businesses like his. The EDA board will be voting on whether to approve the plan at its monthly meeting on Wednesday.
"The $5 million allocation is not subject to this upcoming budget cycle that I'm actually in the process of deliberating over," said Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-NJ 25th District), who, along with other lawmakers, is continuing to push forward the Road to Relief act bills that aim to offer businesses both tax and transportation cost relief. It's all part of the response to the I-80 sinkhole mess, which officials say will continue into May and June.
"We didn't take our foot off the gas for this," said Dunn, "and I won't."
These efforts are on top of a $2 million loan program from the U.S. Small Business Administration announced on Friday.
In nearby Mine Hill Township, along an often-jammed Route 46, Esposito's L&L Deli is hurting.
"We're like a mom and pop store, we have a little bit of everything," said owner Scott Esposito. "[Drivers] don't want to leave and get out of line because they can't get back in. So that's how it's impacting us."
To help incentivize their customers to come in, L&L is leaning into the sinkhole chaos by offering an 80-cent coffee and a sandwich sinkhole special.
Mine Hill Mayor Sam Morris encourages people to support places like this in a charitable way.
"It may be inconvenient, but they need them to be here when June comes around," said Morris.