Fort Wayne Eased Construction Access for Local Retailer

The city adjusted street schedules and signage to help a business maintain customer access during its peak sales season.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A brick storefront with a cleared construction trench and orange safety pylons in the street, providing vehicle access. — Fort Wayne officials adjusted local construction plans near Harrison Street to maintain customer access for Stoner’s Funstore during its peak Halloween season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust your local government to prioritize small business access during construction projects?

Fort Wayne officials modified construction plans near Harrison Street to support Stoner's Funstore. The changes follow concerns that infrastructure work disrupted operations during the weeks leading up to Halloween.

Why it matters

The pre-Halloween period accounts for over 60% of the store's annual revenue, making reliable customer access critical to the firm's financial health. The city's adjustment acknowledges the specific impact construction schedules can have on seasonal small-business performance.

The pre-Halloween sales season accounts for over 60% of annual revenue for the business, which has operated at its Harrison Street location for over 75 years. City crews have now committed to keeping the Main and Harrison intersection open during non-working hours.

The players

Stoner's Funstore

A long-standing retail business that has operated on Harrison Street in Fort Wayne for over 75 years.

Fort Wayne

The local municipal government responsible for managing public construction projects and traffic signage.

The details

City crews are reopening the intersection of Main and Harrison streets during non-working hours to maintain traffic flow. Additionally, officials removed One-Way and Do Not Enter signage from the alley behind the store to create an alternative entry point for customers. These operational shifts were implemented after the business reported significant difficulty with customer access during the initial days of the project.

Thursday: Store staff learned of the construction project.
Tuesday morning: Stoner's Funstore released a statement regarding construction impact.
Nov. 5: Street construction is scheduled to conclude.

Market Landscape

This intervention highlights how local municipal authorities can exercise flexibility under existing commercial access ordinances to mitigate the economic impact of infrastructure projects on small businesses. It marks a departure from standard construction management that often prioritizes project timelines over surrounding business access.

Operators in proximity to major public works should document customer access disruptions immediately to facilitate constructive dialogue with local planning departments. Proactive communication with municipal project managers before peak sales periods can often yield adjustments to signage or site activity.

The takeaway

Maintaining access during your primary revenue window is a vital operational priority that requires direct engagement with city officials. Use the Nov. 5 completion date as a target to re-evaluate local traffic patterns and assess your store's performance against historical seasonal benchmarks.