Business owners in the 18b Las Vegas Arts District say months of road work on Charleston Boulevard have driven away customers, and they are now asking the City of Las Vegas for help. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Monday, Nov. 9, that several shops are reporting steep losses, following earlier reports from KTNV and FOX5 last week.
What’s happening
The work is the City of Las Vegas’ Charleston Boulevard storm drain project, an estimated $49 million flood-control job running along Charleston from Maryland Parkway west to Commerce Street, with a leg on Maryland Parkway between Franklin Avenue and Charleston. Besides new storm drains, crews are adding sewer and water lines, new pavement, pedestrian upgrades, signal changes and medians. The city manages it, with funding from the Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the RTC. Charleston has generally stayed open with one lane in each direction while side streets close in rolling phases.
The city says the current segment should wrap up around the end of November, and access from Charleston to southbound Commerce Street is expected to reopen Nov. 20. The full project, including final paving, is not expected to finish until 2027.
What owners are asking for
In an Oct. 30 letter to Ward 3 Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, a group of Arts District owners asked for four things, according to KTNV: around-the-clock construction to finish faster, more free parking, temporary relief from some city taxes and fees, and a single city contact for construction problems.
The numbers they shared are stark. Conrad West Gallery told FOX5 its monthly visitors fell from about 1,500 to about 150. Artistic Iron Works, a 50-year-old company with more than 50 employees, said sales are down at least 30% and crews have at times blocked its driveway. Dig It! Coffee Shop closed this spring after struggling through the work.
Mayor Shelley Berkley told FOX5 that 24-hour work is not possible because “concrete needs time to cure,” and asked for patience. A city spokesperson told KTNV the city could extend work hours and promote downtown businesses on city social media, and noted it already offers alternate routes, subsidized employee parking and free lunch-hour parking.
The timing is tough: the city has also paused First Friday for November and December, removing the district’s busiest night of the month until at least January.
What it means for locals and visitors
- The shops are open. The city says access to businesses and homes is maintained throughout construction, even when the front entrance looks blocked.
- Use the side streets. The city suggests Oakey Boulevard to reach Main Street businesses south of Charleston, Bonneville Avenue for businesses north of Charleston, and Las Vegas Boulevard for north-south trips.
- Plan for one lane on Charleston between Commerce and Maryland Parkway, and expect slowdowns at rush hour.
- Go at lunch. The city offers free lunch-hour parking downtown; check posted signs.
- Visiting from the Strip? Rideshare drop-offs on Main Street or Casino Center Boulevard are usually easier than driving Charleston.
Small spending matters here: a coffee, a gallery print or a lunch on a weekday helps these businesses bridge the next year of construction.
Sources
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: Arts District businesses seek help amid construction (Nov. 9, 2026)
- KTNV: Arts District businesses seek emergency relief (Nov. 5, 2026)
- FOX5: Arts District owners say storm drain construction is cutting into sales (Nov. 5, 2026)
- City of Las Vegas: The 18b Las Vegas Arts District is open for business
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