The Nook Cafe in downtown Edmonton is asking its customers to keep visiting the small business as road closures for LRT construction make access a challenge.

The intersection at 97 Street and 102 Avenue will be closed to traffic for the next four weeks beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday.

There are no access points to the cafe for people heading north on 97 Street, and the business is voicing concern that it could hurt their business in the long term.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hey folks, we need your help! Our road is closed for a month starting today just north of the cafe at 102 ave to accommodate the ongoing LRT construction. This will mean no access to us via 97st heading in from the north side. We’ve been in discussions with the powers that be to try and open up other access points around this area but haven’t gotten far at this point. This kind of blockage can break a small business so we need you!! Please keep visiting the cafe during this tricky to get to time. We can be accessed from jasper ave and are still a walkable-bikeable and transit accessible location. We’d love to see you sipping cuppas and snacking on cinnamon buns all August long. �� . . . . . . #nookyeg #eatdrinkbecozy #yegcafe #yeg #yeggers #bigcitywoes #yegdt #780 #yegcoffee #yegeats #edmonton #edmontonliving #yegquarters #shoplocalyeg || �� by @april_mac_killins

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Nook Cafe owner Lynsae Moon is hoping that sharing her concerns on social media will encourage customers to brave the construction to come to the café.

"When you spend money locally, it stays in your community," Moon said.

"A few days can really break a business," she added.

Crews are putting in rail beds and laying down rail for the Valley Line LRT.

"We have about a month to get this done, and get this all back in place with rail, rail bed, all the paving stones and the sidewalks back into its right place," said Dean Heuman, stakeholder relations manager with TransEd.

The Nook Cafe isn't the only business raising concerns in the area. People at Market Drugs Medical say they can feel the floor shake when construction is happening.

"It's been a headache," said manager Valerie Hallet. "It's been a lot of drilling, a lot of pounding, and it does affect the staff and the clients."

Hallet believes the uncertain access points and lack of parking will discourage customers.

This is the third of three planned intersection closures on 102 Avenue.