It's a case of the world record-breaking festive lights that stole Christmas for retailers along Petrie Plaza who are competing with the light extravaganza for customers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Several retailers have told the Sunday Canberra Times their trade has plummeted and there was a lack of consultation about the display.
While acknowledging the virtues of the fund-raising initiatives, some businesses say the black barricades are an eyesore during the day.
Clock Doc owners Vincent and Henriette Jason said they had lost thousands of dollars due to the "monstrosity", despite staying open later and trying to attract customers with their own festive lights.
"It has affected my trade since November when construction started," Mrs Jason said.
"If the black wasn't there, it would make it a lot better, it would be tolerable."
"Christmas comes once a year and we put a lot of hours in.
"We've been here seven days a week for seven weeks and we will right up until Christmas Eve."
Black Tie suit hire store owner Xavier Orsucci questioned the lights' location.
"Being surrounded by plenty of open [spaces], Glebe Park for instance … it would have been a wonderful spot for it," he said.
"But it's Christmas trade and to have that sort of partitioning cutting off traffic flow [causes inconveniences]."
Mr Orsucci also said he was not consulted and didn't know about the lights until construction had begun.
"It was a very short notification that it was happening, rather than a consultation," he said.
Canberra CBD Limited chief executive Jane Easthope said stores had been contacted several times about the lights.
"We understand from an aesthetic point of view they could be better during the day but this is the first year of three," she said.
"To [businesses] may I suggest that 44,000 people through the lights [so far] might encourage some traders to open later or perhaps put some Christmas decorations [up]?"
Ms Easthope said the lights would now be switched on from noon, until Christmas Eve, to help entice shoppers into the city.
"We'll be growing from this and learning. The key message to them [businesses] is, if you haven't done it this year, take advantage of it next year. Throw open the doors later, decorate the shops, do whatever it is to keep people inside your business," she said.
Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Chris Faulks said businesses needed to experiment with a range of activities to attract Christmas shoppers.
"If you look at what's happening in the new really lively areas, at New Acton, at Kingston Foreshore, it's because they're doing things that are a bit different," she said. ""The lights won't be there forever, it's just a thing at night."
