Struggling Businesses in Christiansted Hope for Holiday Boost Despite Roadwork Setbacks, Decline in Foot Traffic

DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX — Ahead of the start of the holiday shopping season, store owners in Christiansted are concerned that after a year of depressed foot traffic and sales, lingering disruption caused by ongoing road repairs may continue to negatively impact operations. Rosa Asencio of RJS Handmade Designs has been operating her handcrafted jewelry business from her location on Strand Street for about eight years. “The majority of our clientele is local,” she says. For the past year, her regulars have been complaining about driving into town because of the poor condition of the roads. Last Christmas, foot traffic through Christiansted was so slow that the jewelry store offered free local shipping as a strategy to incentivize customers to shop without necessarily having to visit in person. This year, with roadworks still ongoing, Ms. Asencio, her daughter, and her sister are waiting to see what impact this will have on the family business. However, Ms. Ascencio acknowledg...