Businesses say U.S. Open bumper-to-bumper gridlock pushing some customers away

BROOKLINE, Mass. — The U.S. Open is attracting nearly triple the population of Brookline, and drivers who have commuted through the area since Monday have taken notice.

Neighbors and businesses are anticipating traffic to get even worse through the weekend as the golf tournament officially gets underway.

Dozens of police details have been in place since Monday, and more than 50 streets have been designated as “resident only”.

Some businesses told Boston 25 News they were excited to cash in on the business opportunity but have actually been losing cash.

Those businesses said the anxiety of bumper-to-bumper traffic, road closures and detours has been pushing many customers away.

“Traffic is very busy, but business is very slow because they block all the roads and a lot of customers say they’re having a little hard time getting in,” said Jaimie Thang, manager at Mandarin Gourmet in Brookline.

Thang said she believes some drivers are also getting overwhelmed by all of the signs instructing people on where to go and where not to.

“There’s a sign saying no left turn right by our strip mall. A lot of customers are very confused and scared to turn in here,” said Thang. “We have a full staff, and we’re losing big business.”

Some are avoiding the area all together as things get more hectic by the day.

“We’ve probably got half as many customers as we normally do this week,” said Helen Glotzer, General Manager at Allandale Farm. “We have cut back on hours with staff.”

Allandale Farm, which sits on border of Jamaica Plain and Brookline, is reminding folks that they’re still open for business and that traffic hasn’t been as bad coming from the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale area.

“We’ve heard people say I wasn’t going to come, but it actually wasn’t that bad,” said Glotzer. “It is a little disappointing in terms of the week and we’ve got beautiful vegetables coming in, but a world class golf tournament only comes once every couple of decades.”

Drivers who have commuted through Brookline since Monday are advising others to take public transportation if possible.

“It’s terrible. A friend came over, and it took an extra hour from north Brookline by car,” said one woman. “It’s an inconvenience. That’s all I’m saying!”

The MBTA is providing shuttle service to the Country Club from the Forest Hills station in Jamaica Plain and the Cleveland Circle station in Brighton from 6 a.m. through late in the evening.

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