KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After two successful years in Westport, a restaurant owner is seeing her sales decline. She says it’s not the food or service, but a huge green dumpster that’s parked right in front of her door.
The restaurant is named Sama Zama. Owner Erika Koike said it’s been a problem for weeks.
“It’s hurting the business overall and, image wise, it’s not pleasant,” Koike said.
Koike said her biggest issue with the dumpster is when customers call and can’t find the restaurant.
“It’s been sitting there for a while; getting calls from customers saying they cannot find our restaurant, so we have to explain we are right behind the dumpster,” she said. “It’s just not very pleasant to hear.”
The dumpster is for the space next door. It’s being remodeled and the dumpster is needed. Koike understands, but at the same time she’s trying to run a business.
“We’ve been talking to them and they’ve been working on it but the situation [has not] changed or improved,” she said.
There’s been no indication when the business next door to Sama Zama will open, but Koike says she can live with a smaller dumpster until the renovation is complete. The Westport Regional Business League is going to reach out to the new business owner to see if that’s possible.
