ROANOKE RAPIDS — For eight businesses on or near Roanoke Avenue, time’s up. Notices given last Friday gave the businesses one week to get their merchandise and displays off the city sidewalks — after today, they face fines.

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Roanoke Rapids’ sidewalk ordinance — on the books since the 1970s — forbids placing merchandise or displays on sidewalks. Until very recently, stores and businesses who did so, didn’t seem to be bothering anyone. Now, after numerous complaints, the city has had to issue the notices. Only city council has the power to change the ordinance.

Those on the receiving end, were not too happy about it.

“I could understand if we put our stuff out on the sidewalk,” said Deborah Sullivan, manager of Downtown Clearance, one of the businesses receiving notice. “But we put it right up against our building.”

Sullivan said putting restrictions on displays, which are some business’ only form of advertising, hurts local business.

“They want businesses downtown,” Sullivan stated. “But then they want to limit us as to what we can do. I’m fairly new and I don’t advertise. I depend on word-of-mouth. People have to know I’m here in order for me to stay here.”

Joseph Esperance, owner of Joseph Elegant Dollar World and More, agreed. Placing some of his offerings — he sells mechanized scooters and other items — on the sidewalk, he insisted, is the only way to get people, particulary those driving on the Avenue, to notice his store or for them to know what he’s selling.

“I’ll put out one or two bikes, new, outside to attract customers to come in,” Esperance said. “If we don’t have something outside to show we’re doing business inside, nobody knows we’re here. We have to have something to attract them into the business to make a dollar.”

“It’s a 35 or 40-year-old ordinance,” stated Steve Allgood, owner of Allgood’s General Store, which typically displays furniture items on the sidewalk. “I’ve checked the state ordinance and I’m in compliance with that.”

For Allgood, compliance with the sidewalk ordinance for him should mean compliance for all, even those not on the Avenue. “If you want me to be in compliance, it’s going to have to be all over the city,” Allgood said.

Business owners say taking the displays off the sidewalks could hurt their businesses. “The view is everything,” Esperance asserted, referring to the visibility of his products. “If they take our view, we should just close this door and say goodbye forever.”

Despite the importance of their displays, Esperance and Sullivan say they will comply with the notices because they can’t afford to spend 50 dollars a day in fines.  Allgood wasn’t sure.

“I don’t know what I’ll do,” he said.

“But as of right now, I’m saying that more than likely my stuff will be out there.”