Osppris's MUSIC HALL
75 MAIN STREET « NASHUA NEW HAMPSHIRE 03000 « PHONE (603) 886-1748
February 24, 2022
Dear Board of Alderman ;
My name is KC Darrell, | am the owner of Darrell’s Music Hall located at 75 Main Street here in downtown Nashua. My family
business has been at this location now going on 40 years.
During our 4 decades of establishment in Nashua, we have seen downtown go through many changes. In the spring of 2020, we
supported the expanded dining area provided by the barriers. During the spring of 2020 the expanded dining brought a
vibrancy to downtown we had not seen in years. While most other communities were still living under restriction, Nashua was
open! This caused a magnet of activity to downtown Nashua to those looking to get out and back to normaicy,
During 2020, most people were still working from home, leaving very little commuter traffic. Although the barriers took up
valuable parking spaces, finding parking wasn't an issue because most downtown offices were still closed and working
remotely, The expanded dining was a great success and we were happy to see all the restaurants thrive.
In the spring of 2021 the barriers returned. Other communities had opened, indoor dining was now allowed, and the buzz of
activity did not return the way it had in spring & summer 2020. Downtown offices opened, people returned to work, and the
traffic returned to normal. The barriers had a far more negative impact on our business than any positive.
The barriers caused many challenges for us in 2021, The traffic was horrendous. Our delivery trucks were either blocked, or
would have to block the street themselves to get in and out of our building. The orange barrels placed around the barriers in
front of our building, and large orange electronic construction sign blocked our business from the road. As summer went on,
the traffic grew and there was grid lock at every intersection downtown. Notably at the intersection of Water & Main Streets.
Whole light cycles would go through without moving at all. It became a deterrent to most visiting downtown. Customers that
would come downtown, could not find parking and call to ask where to go.
lama patron to many of the downtown restaurants and want to see everyone thrive! However, | feel those establishments
may be avoided like the rest downtown because of the constraints of those barriers. | support the restaurants being able to set
up outside on the sidewalks or expand along the sidewalks further. However barriers are excessive and should not be set up
this year.
enneth C Darrell
THE FINEST SELECTION OF PIANOS AND ORGANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
