Beaver County Businesses Struggle Amid Months-Long Road Closure

Nesmith Diner and Catering and Philly Pretzel Factory face declining sales and early closures due to the shutdown of Route 68 in Rochester, Pennsylvania.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:34pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic studio still life featuring a closed 'OPEN' sign, a set of car keys, and a crumpled receipt on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the struggles of local businesses impacted by infrastructure projects.A closed sign, abandoned keys, and a crumpled receipt tell the story of small businesses fighting to stay afloat during a prolonged road closure.Beaver Today

A long-term road closure on Route 68 in Rochester, Beaver County, Pennsylvania is causing significant problems for local businesses. Nesmith Diner and Catering and Philly Pretzel Factory have both reported declining sales and earlier closing times due to the construction project, which is expected to last until mid-November. The Nesmith Diner owners say the closure is not sustainable for keeping their lights on and covering overhead costs, while Philly Pretzel Factory has already announced it will be closing permanently on April 18 due to the lack of customers.

Why it matters

The closure of a major road like Route 68 can have devastating impacts on small businesses that rely on foot traffic and easy access for customers. This story highlights the challenges faced by local enterprises when infrastructure projects disrupt normal operations, especially in a small community like Rochester where options for alternate routes may be limited.

The details

The Route 68 closure, which began just over a week ago, is between the Rochester Roundabout at Adams Street and Jefferson Street at Virginia Avenue. PennDOT says the closure will remain in place through mid-November. Nesmith Diner and Catering, a relatively new business in the community, has seen sales slip and has had to close earlier as a result. The owners say the lost revenue is not enough to cover their overhead costs. Philly Pretzel Factory, located down the street, has announced it will be closing permanently on April 18 due to the lack of customers caused by the road closure.

  • Route 68 closure began just over a week ago on April 6, 2026.
  • The Route 68 closure is expected to remain in place through mid-November 2026.

The players

Nesmith Diner and Catering

A relatively new diner and catering business in the Rochester, Pennsylvania community that is facing declining sales and earlier closing times due to the Route 68 closure.

Philly Pretzel Factory

A local pretzel shop in Rochester that has announced it will be closing permanently on April 18, 2026 due to the lack of customers caused by the Route 68 closure.

PennDOT

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the construction project that has led to the closure of Route 68 in Rochester.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I feel like we could have maybe done it a different way.”

— Anita Nesmith, Co-owner, Nesmith Diner and Catering

“It doesn't sustain keeping the lights on. The gas, utilities, all of the other things, all the overhead that you have when you own a business.”

— Anita Nesmith, Co-owner, Nesmith Diner and Catering

“The sales simply are not there, and the closing of Adams Street is the dagger that killed us.”

— Philly Pretzel Factory

What’s next

PennDOT has not provided an exact timeline for when the Route 68 closure in Rochester will be lifted, but has stated it is expected to remain in place through mid-November 2026.

The takeaway

This story highlights the significant challenges that small businesses in tight-knit communities can face when major infrastructure projects disrupt normal operations and access for customers. It underscores the importance of clear communication and coordination between government agencies and local enterprises to minimize the economic impacts of necessary construction work.