Labels: Clothing

Standing in the quiet general store nestled along the hills and forest-lined Ortega Highway, Kristie Fenstermaker watched as another of the waves of cars flew by, wishing out loud that one of the vehicles would break from the pack and pull into her struggling business.

Fenstermaker, the owner of Kristi's Korner in El Cariso Village, says her business is just barely making it. Unable to afford to pay an employee, Fenstermaker works seven days a week at the shop, even as she prepares to ship out to Kuwait in a few months with her National Guard unit.

"It's something that has to be done, but it does have an impact," Fenstermaker said of the road work. "The store has seen better days."

Some have fought back. Tyler Paulson, owner of Hell's Kitchen, a motor sport-themed restaurant and bar popular with motorcycle enthusiasts, has filed suit against Caltrans to halt construction and reimburse him for lost revenue. Paulson estimated his El Cariso Village business has suffered a drop in revenue of 30 percent to 40 percent since the work began.

"People don't have time to stop in, even for a quick burger, because they are going to be waiting in traffic. When I opened my restaurant, I was catering to the Orange County yuppie motorcyclist. They could get a nice ride through the canyon, sit and have a meal, and get out of the city," Paulson said. "Where I used to see customers at least two or three times a month, now I see those customers once a month or every six weeks."

Marilyn Ivy, the former owner of the Ortega Country Cottage Candy store, said the worst seemed to be over. The candy store lost about 40 percent of its business last year, Ivy said, but sales have begun improving.

"Last year was pretty slow, but people realize it's not too hard to get up here," said Ivy, who remains behind the candy store counter helping the new owner. "We are pretty much back to where we should be."

Labels: Ortega Highway