The street where the Kemah Lighthouse District is located is open again after the city closed it to drivers.

KEMAH, Texas (KTRK) – The street that is home to the Kemah Lighthouse District is open again after the city closed it to drivers later in the summer.

It’s all because of lawsuits brought by business owners in the area who claim the closures have hurt them financially.

A Galveston County judge issued a so-called temporary injunction ordering the city to reopen Sixth Street because state law had not been followed.

“Pure relief. It was amazing,” said Bakkhus Taverna General Manager Lance Campian.

“This is a huge victory for our team. Of course, I was very excited,” said Jordan Poltz, CEO of Voodoo Hut.

This causes excitement because there are a lot of cars parked on the street, which means more customers for restaurant and bar managers.

SEE ALSO: Kemah Businesses File Suit Alleging 6th Street Closure Caused Financial Loss

“This is a huge relief for me. I know my owner is happy about it too,” Campian said.

About a month ago, the 6th Street Beacon area was closed to drivers. Poles were installed and Campian says business began to slow down.

“We lost about 50 percent of our total sales even on Tuesday alone. I made about $700. For our work, it’s two, three times as much,” Campian said.

The closure was part of a plan to make the area more pedestrian-friendly. After seeing the financial losses, several businesses filed a lawsuit against the city, and now a temporary ban on the street’s reopening has been issued.

“Bartenders and servers rely on this local crowd throughout the day, and having them park here during lunch is critical to our success,” Poltz said.

In the temporary injunction, the court found that Kema closed 6th Street between Bradford Avenue and Kipp Avenue without a petition “signed by all property owners abutting the street or alley.”

“Plaintiffs have suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury, loss and damage” if the street does not reopen.

While the situation has now returned to normal, these managers are hopeful that the legal battle between them and the city may come to an end.

“We are open to working with the city, and I think Kemah is a great place to experience Southern hospitality, and by working with the locals and the city, we can create something great together,” Poltz said.

An attorney representing the business said the city has filed an appeal. ABC13 reached out to the city for confirmation and did not hear back.

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