Once thriving, Arch by Suki, now faces plummeting foot traffic, parking chaos, and an uncertain future due to the construction on Commerce Street in Deep Ellum.
DALLAS — Parts of Commerce Street in Deep Ellum may look closed due to construction, but businesses like Arch by Suki are still open.
Arch by Suki is a local female-owned threading studio founded in 2011. Sukhee Suwal first opened her studio in Lower Greenville. She then moved to the Design District before relocating to Deep Ellum in 2019.
For 14 years, Sukhee’s business thrived without a penny spent on advertising, relying solely on word-of-mouth.
“All three chairs would be full, we’d have a waiting list, and walk-ins on top of that,” Sukhee recalls.
She was drawn to the history of Deep Ellum and loved seeing small businesses thrive in the neighborhood. When she first moved in, there was a lot of foot traffic and new clients quickly turned into loyal customers.
Emily Garden, a regular at Arch by Suki, said, “I’ve been coming every single month.”
But over the past year, that bustling energy has faded. Foot traffic has plummeted by nearly 80%, Sukhee estimates, with many clients canceling. The customers who do show up are mostly late, setting back the rest of her appointments.
Sukhee blames a $30 million Commerce Street construction project for the dip in business. The City of Dallas is transforming the one-way road into a two-way street, improving sidewalks and drainage too.
While Sukhee supports the need for improvements, the slow pace of construction is devastating her business.
“We don’t know how long we can survive like this,” she admits, as the sound of construction equipment hums outside her door.
Parking, a constant complaint from her clients, has only worsened.
“I had to circle about three times and ended up paying almost $12 for parking just to be here for 20 minutes,” Garden said.
In a statement, the City of Dallas said:
“At this time, Transportation & Public Works staff have completed construction of the new water line from Walton Street to Exposition Avenue and will be working to test and put it into service. After that, we will continue working on the new water line from Walton Street to Good Latimer Expressway while beginning subgrade preparation, grading, and paving from Walton to Exposition. The estimated completion date of the project is December 2026.
Our contractor communicates with residents daily to address issues or needs that may arise during construction. Project manager Travis Coltharp meets with the Deep Ellum Foundation on a monthly basis to discuss the status of the ongoing project.
City staff understands the inconveniences caused by construction and endeavors to minimize them where possible.”
For Sukhee, the struggles have led her to consider moving back to the Design District, despite her attachment to Deep Ellum.
“If they’ll be done by 2026, then we’re happy to come back,” she says. But for now, she’s uncertain how much longer she can wait.
Sukhee hopes the city will step in to help small businesses survive the construction chaos, whether by expediting the project or providing practical solutions like better parking guidance.
As construction continues, Sukhee remains patient but deeply concerned about the future of Arch by Suki, and the small businesses that give Deep Ellum its vibrant charm.
