RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – If you’ve walked along Tredegar Street, it’s hard to miss the big, colorful truck with Waterfront RVA painted across.

Waterfront RVA located off of Tredegar St. (WWBT)

The business offers kayaks and paddleboards to rent.

Benjamin Moore tells 12 On Your Side that customers have had easy access to his business for years, but this summer, everything changed.

He says the road closures and limited parking on concert days at the Allianz Amphitheater are causing his business to take a big hit, telling 12 On Your Side he’s had several people call and cancel at the last minute.

“They get down here and see the closures and see the amount of traffic, and they’ll say ‘Oh, we’ll come another day or we’ll do something else,’” Moore, owner of Waterfront RVA, said. “So a hundred percent I’ve lost business.”

Moore says he also partners with non-profits and summer camps and claims their activity session was cut short because the road closure prevented them from driving down Browns Island Way.

“They really pushed back hard for them to get dropped off on Second Street to walk down this hill and walk back up, and you know if you have 15, 20 kids, that’s a half an hour walking on each end.” Moore said, “If you have a two-hour program, and normally a two-hour program, they get dropped off here and we have two hours of teaching and getting them out on the water. That two-hour program turns into a one-hour program.”

Moore also offers customers the option to rent watercraft to take to a different body of water outside of the park, but that option became difficult, too. He said clients were asked to park at the top of Browns Island Way, walk down to get a paddleboard or kayak and walk it back up the hill.

Waterfront RVA owner walks kyak up the hill on Browns Island Way, back to his truck. (WWBT)

Riverside Outfitters is also feeling the closure pains. Owner Matt Perry tells 12 On Your Side he’s unable to use the boat ramp for trip launches or emergency evacuations without having to determine who on the Amphitheater staff to get approval from.

12 On Your Side spoke with city officials about these concerns. They say Live Nation, which owns the Allianz Amphitheater, has permits to close off the 400 to 600 block of Tredegar Street between Brown’s Island Way and South 7th Street and Brown’s Island Way between South 2nd Street and Tredegar.

The city also leased the Belle Isle parking lot from them in June and July, but did not issue a permit in August.

In July, community members voiced concerns over limited parking and road closures around the amphitheater.

“We understand that creates some frustration for the community, and that’s why we open the lot as soon as we can after the shows,” Matt Rogers, Live Nation Regional VP of Operations, said.

Mayor Danny Avula is also responding to business owners’ concerns in a statement:

“The long-term revitalization of Brown’s Island and the recent opening of the amphitheater have been an exciting period of change and growth, and as with any change, can come challenges. While I don’t know all the specifics of every concern, I am deeply committed to keeping our residents and visitors safe while also supporting the success of local businesses, which are vital to the vibrancy of our city. Road closures around the amphitheater can be frustrating, but they are ultimately intended to ensure the safety of residents and concertgoers. I am always very grateful when these concerns are brought to my attention.”

Moore tells 12 On Your Side he doesn’t want Live Nation to give up or go somewhere else; however, he would like the streets and parking lots to remain open.

“I would like to see a completely reworked way of doing this next spring when it opens back up,” said Moore. amphitheater

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