Ray Seguin has operated his Lucky 13 convenience store and gas bar along McKeown Avenue in North Bay since 1986.
Now, the longtime local businessman says the business is teetering on the edge of permanently closing.
Seguin says he is dealing with a construction "double-whammy," which includes the McKeown four-lane project on the south end of the business, along with a closure at his east entrance on McNamara Street which is closed off for a traffic lights project and has become a location for equipment, sea containers and portable offices.
Traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of McKeown Avenue and McNamara Street with a left-turn lane from McNamara to access McKeown and a controlled pedestrian crossing. According to a city report, this is in response to residents who expressed a desire for improvements at the intersection.
He says the combined closures have disrupted access to his store causing a massive drop in customers.
"I am down about 75 per cent and about $5,000 a month in profit," said Seguin bluntly.
Seguin understands the McKeown project but the closure of a street for storage has left him scratching his head.
"The big part is I don't understand why they had to do that," said Seguin.
"When I went to the city and asked them to move it somewhere else, where they could store an outhouse, a couple of offices, and three sea containers, they basically told me that this is was already done, and that's what it is; basically, there's nothing they could do."
Seguin says he was told work would be completed by the end of October.
"We're now there, and now they're sitting in November, so when does it end," questions Seguin.
"I'm losing my shirt. I'm asking for compassion, but I think it's just being disrespectful. My concern too, is they're going to do the same thing on Cartier next year and do the same thing to Twiggs, and why? Why do you need to do this to businesses? We're already suffering."
Seguin says his business has been a key location along McKeown Avenue for decades. He hopes to survive the construction as he is pursuing a liquor licence from the province for his convenience store to boost business.
Along with the construction woes, Seguin says he has seen an increase in crime as an employee was involved in a stabbing incident at the convenience store last October.
"A lot of the stress has started with the stabbing that we had and the homelessness around here has created havoc," admitted Seguin.
"They're stealing stuff, they're damaging stuff. They're coming in with no fear. Some of them are very scary, and it's been hard to maintain and keep staff motivated when they're alone and have to deal with the situation.
"So it's a lot to consider when you want to do a growth plan in business, have to deal with all those obstacles that don't seem to be getting better."
Seguin just hopes to survive the challenges.
"At best, 50/50, we'll just see what happens in the near future and cross our fingers."
BayToday reached out to the City of North Bay on Monday for a response to Seguin's concerns but did not receive a reply by our publication deadline.
With files from Stu Campaigne
