Cruser Coffee owner sees business cut in half after bridge closure

Vehicle traffic across the State Route 536 Division Street Bridge in Mount Vernon has stopped completely since Nov. 1. The Washington State Department of Transportation shut down the span in both directions for infrastructure preservation and painting work. This closure has isolated small businesses on either side of the Skagit River from their usual customers.

Nicole Cruse, who owns Cruser Coffee, said the disruptions started with partial closures in June. She now faces a full shutdown that has changed her daily operations. Cruse previously served more than 100 customers a day with the help of two staff members. To manage costs, she is now working more shifts alone.

"It’s like a ghost town over here," Cruse said. "It’s been pretty terrible, not going to lie." She expressed hope that officials will find a way to compensate the small businesses that have suffered the financial impact.

Nearby retailers report similar declines in regular clientele. Kayetlyn Brittain, a budtender at Northwest Cannabis Company, said sales are down roughly 40% on most days. She noted that it is very rare to see her usual customers anymore.

"I get it’s for a good cause, but I wish we had more of a voice of how this was going to go down," Brittain said. Other business owners along Division Street have posted signs to alert customers about the disruption caused by the ongoing construction.

WSDOT public information officer David Rasbach acknowledged the economic strain the shutdown has placed on local retailers. He stated that the agency coordinated with municipal leaders to accelerate the construction. Rasbach said, "We know there's a lot of strong interest in getting this work done and reducing the amount of time that construction affects the residents and businesses in this area on both sides of the bridge."

Officials plan to fully reopen SR 536 in time for the holiday season. The schedule depends on weather conditions allowing the work to stay on track.