Retailers On Broadway Want MLK Parade Route Changed

The annual Martin Luther King parade on Monday along Broadway has many businesses closing their doors.

Some merchants say the parade and his crowd of around 25,000 people is too overwhelming for business.

"We just can't keep the store safe with that number of people coming in and out to use the facilities," said Allen Aboujeib with Bluewater Divers, who will close Monday. "Retails got notice less than a week ago that the parade would come down here."

"We have issues with parking," said Steve Schlegel with Schlegel Bicycles, who will close early Monday.

Merchants thought the route was going to change.

The MLK Coalition that is organizing the event says it's just now hearing the concerns from businesses.

"Being a merchant, I'd probably feel the same way," said Roosevelt Milton with the MLK Coalition.

Milton says he wants parade-goers to mindful of the businesses and use the porta-potties provided for the parade crowd.

Milton says they can't change the route now because the event is only a week away.

"We simply got started too late to make that change," Milton said.