How Brooklyn Businesses REALLY Feel About The Barclays Center

As Brooklyn braces for the long-awaited opening of the $1 billion Barclays Center on September 28, the area around the new arena is quickly changing.

New businesses are coming in, rents are going up and many of the old businesses are being forced to close their doors.

While many outsiders view the arena opening as positive, there is a lot of worry among local business owners, who are concerned they may not be able to withstand downtown Brooklyn's shift from a bustling residential area to a super-busy urban hub with an arena that will draw millions of visitors.

We recently walked around the neighborhood and spoke with local business owners to see how they're being impacted by the new arena.

This is downtown Brooklyn, home of the new Barclays Center. The arena is right across from a major transit hub and shopping center, and opens Sept. 28. [This satellite picture shows early construction.]

It's right across the street from a big shopping center. Employees at Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings told us they expect a big bump in business when the arena opens.

The manager at a small parking garage by the arena said business was slow now, but that he was "positive there's going to be an improvement" in just a few weeks.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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