It’s the subway, stupid.
It’s not the stinking economy that’s trashing the bottom lines and leading to layoffs at dozens of businesses on the Upper East Side — it’s the much-delayed construction along the Second Avenue subway, according to a survey of 59 shops.
Ninety-one percent of businesses located near the construction said they’ve sold less goods and products since the MTA broke ground on the $4.8 billion mega-project in 2007.
One-third say they’ll have to close shop before the latest completion date, which is July 2017, said Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.
To make ends meet, another 46 percent of the 59 businesses polled have laid off workers due to the construction.
Owners have long complained of noise and blocked sidewalks, while seemingly endless work has covered up signs and driven business away from the shops.