“We are activities destined to be sacrificed . If it goes well, we survive. But what if it goes wrong? Shall we go to the square to sell drugs ?».
There is anger, fear and frustration in the words of Stefano Sandali , one of the owners of Verdeacqua , the gardening shop that overlooks viale Trieste , now closed to traffic in the stretch that goes from piazza del Carmine to via Caprera . And while Cagliari is preparing for a profound restyling of its image, dozens of businesses are preparing to close their shutters after a «failure» day. We found ourselves working in a street closed to traffic and customers, where you can only pass by on foot – continues Sandali -. But the current spring worries us, because this is the period of the year in which we work best». And if at the beginning plan B will be to draw on savings, in the end “ we will have to deal with the suppliers to pay . What if the money isn't enough? I don't even want to think about it», concludes the shopkeeper. And a glance on the deserted road is enough to notice that « nobody passes here . Two or three customers came in this morning, but the evening was really a hole in the water: we didn't type a single receipt. We feel like at 41bis , closed with these bars», comments Italo Sulliotti , who has been welcoming his trusted customers for 61 years , looking for quality sweets and liqueurs.
Farewell, therefore, to the much-hated “ double queues ” of those who, for a quick purchase, left the car with the 4 indicators on but who, by doing so, « ensured our salary . I have an employee, he's on vacation for now but then I'll have to evaluate an alternative solution», admits Sugliotti. And if paychecks are a big concern, so are the many " that the workers could find between one excavation and another. They would block everything, we can't afford that. For us, even a month can make the difference», says , who observes the road and the few passers-by from the door of his “ ”. «Not everyone feels like coming here: many think that everything is closed. But there is a pedestrian corridor». A watchful (and worried) eye also that of , of " ", according to whom «they should keep closed for 4 months but in my opinion . 4 or 5 people will not be enough to finish everything within the time limit». But for a more precise assessment «we will wait for the weekend, today is Monday. Maybe things will go differently, we all hope for that».
