Business owners are fed up with crime, road construction and dilapidated buildings along Broadway.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Businesses along Sacramento's Broadway are fed up with crime plaguing an area that should be thriving.
This comes after a Chevron gas station employee was robbed at gunpoint during daylight hours Thursday.
One business owner told ABC10 that employees and other business owners fear losing their lives in an effort to make a living and feel they have no choice but to fend for themselves.
“A man came into the store, pointed a gun at him and said, 'Open the till or I'll shoot you,'” said Syed Naqvi, Shevon's manager.
Naqvi said he was robbed at gunpoint at least five times during the two years he worked at the store, including twice on the same day in January 2024.
“We've already had six employees quit — six. It's very frustrating for us because no one wants to work here,” he said.
Naqvi's shop is not the only one struggling: The owner of C&B Food & Liquor, which has been family-run for more than 30 years, said all the shops on the street are facing similar problems.
“For the last four years, Broadway has been in a really bad state. It's not just homeless people that come and do stupid things. It's regular people as well. They come and try to steal things and then they say call the police,” Ram Dharmendra said.
He said he calls police once or twice a month, sometimes more. Businesses want the area to thrive but feel they're being stymied.
“It's difficult. We have to monitor, keep an eye on things, hire extra people and then pay them,” Dharmendra said. “We're constantly on guard and afraid to come to work.”
Business owners say the ongoing road construction has also made the situation worse, as they feel the area is choked with traffic and people are discouraged from visiting, with more buildings closing and falling into ruin.
The Sacramento Police Department says officers regularly patrol the area and that its problem-solving policing unit works with businesses.
Bar owners have said they don't blame police for the problems but have tried to help each other out when they can. But the general manager of New Helvetia Brewing Company said that's not enough.
“I think it's the community coming together that's going to help Broadway survive more. (We) want people to come here and spend money at local businesses,” Daniel Yamber said.
Police say George Cole, 30, was arrested in connection with Thursday's Chevron robbery and was armed with a BB gun. Police are urging all businesses to report any crimes, no matter how minor.
See more on ABC10: Sacramento's Broadway Corridor under construction
