TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Development in Tallahassee's All Saints Neighborhood is forcing local businesses to think fast as more construction projects pop up.
Yosties Chili Parlor is hungry for customers. The business on Railroad Avenue is known for its chili dogs that somehow defy gravity but across the street and right behind the building, construction is a frustration for owner Gary Yost.
"My phone rings," said Yost, "'There's no place to park. There's no place to park.'"
Developers are making room for new housing and retail. Blue Dog Investments is working on The Freight Yard, adding 28 apartments and 6,000 square feet of retail.
"I don't have no problem with the change, no problem whatsoever, but let the people that've been here for decades be involved in the change," said Yost.
As crews build the Hampton Inn and suites across the street, development isn't the only thing hurting Yosties.
"My building has flooded three times since they've demo'd the back of the building," said Yost.
Yost says he's lost a lot of business because of the construction. In the past two months, he's lost 50 percent of his business and soon, he'll have to find a new location.
"I dropped my money and six weeks of labor to turn it into this, and it's just disheartening that when you get to the hump, now all this change happens," said Yost.
Neighbors are gone. Bread and Roses Kitchen moved across the street. The Food Co-Op, Tallahassee Books and Going Places Street Outreach have closed. And All Saints Café now closes at midnight instead of staying open 24-7. Yost says it's a sign developers are ignoring what makes All Saints unique.
"You're selling six dollar lunches, you're counting pennies, and it's all about volume," said Yost.
We've reached out to Blue Dog Investments and are still waiting to hear back. Yosties will stay open at its current location until the end of the month.
