With Sumner in mind as the perfect location, she opened Chrissie’s Label Clothing on Nayland St and quickly saw her business thrive.
She faced turmoil in 2011 when the earthquake struck and resulted in a downturn in business – but the friendships she had formed with customers gave her the motivation to hang on.
Now the road works, which are being done as part of the $3.6 million Sumner Village Centre Master Plan project, have pushed her to her limit.
Ms Beardsley said she was lucky she managed to keep afloat with other funding, otherwise and she would have been forced to “shut up shop.”
Dust and noise have permeated through Sumner’s main streets since work began in March to build new road surfaces, kerbs, footpaths, stormwater drains, landscaping, and add feature paving.
Diggers, fencing and road cones can be seen on Marriner St, Wakefield Ave, Burgess St and Nayland St.
Outside shops, some footpaths have been closed, parking has been reduced and Marriner St and Wakefield Ave are often reduced to one lane of traffic.
It will provide new street furniture, landscaped areas, cycle lanes, a paved shared space and crossing points, wider footpaths and a slower speed environment.
And with construction ball parked to be completed by the end of the month, Ms Beardsley has “no idea” what she will feel when it is all over.
She described the entire process as “soul-destroying.”
‘Thirty per cent off’ signs remain in her shop window at a time when they would usually be stored away in an attempt to make back the average loss of $1000 a week she has suffered.
“I’ve been crying over it,” she said.
“No one has come and talked to me and asked how the business is going. I could have shown them my financial books which had dropped from $2000 to $300 a week – that’s a big change.”
Ms Beardsley’s is not the only business to take a hit.
Two shops, one of which has been in Sumner for 21 years, now lie vacant.
“Customers have been struggling to get around with the one-ways and no parking. It’s just about wiped us off the planet,” Ms Beardsley said.
CLOUD cafe and Korean Tapa Bar owner Marty Moon opened his business on Marriner St five months ago, about the same time work started on the upgrades.
But in spite of the hit he has taken while trying to make a name for his business, Mr Moon said he has been happy with the way contractors have dealt with the process.
He said they have made an effort to keep him regularly updated as the project progresses through its different stages.
Across the road, Joe’s Garage Sumner owner Callum Brownlee said he usually notices a steady increase in business year on year. However, there has been no growth this year so far.
Heathcote Ward city councillor Sara Templeton acknowledged the road works have been a difficult feat for the shops which had to wear the downturn.
But she said once they are completed, it will be a great payoff.
“Making a much more pedestrian-friendly village is part of what the community wanted to enable the area to thrive.
“It is going to be finished by summer and it’s going to be amazing.”
City council transport planning and delivery manager Lynette Ellis said staff understand the upgrades have been a disruptive time for the community.
“The council and contractor engaged with the local businesses prior to construction to minimise the impact of any disruption,” she said.
Ms Ellis said it was agreed early in the project that the works would be undertaken during the winter when visitor numbers are generally lower.
She said weekend work was limited to Saturday mornings to ensure businesses received a break from construction activity.
“Our team are talking with the businesses on a weekly basis to discuss issues and where possible work in with them to alleviate concerns.”
