The owner of a longtime East San Jose Mexican restaurant says ongoing construction tied to the VTA light rail extension project has forced him to shut down his business after more than three decades.

Fernando Galindo, owner of La Grullensa Restaurant at the CrossRoads Shopping Center on South Capitol Avenue, said his restaurant will close this weekend after struggling through years of disruption caused by the VTA extension connecting Eastridge to BART.

“It just became impossible,” Galindo said. “I did everything I could to keep the business going, but eventually it became too much.”

According to Galindo, the restaurant managed to survive major economic challenges over the years, including the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he said the combination of construction noise, traffic detours and road closures over the past two years drove customers away and severely damaged business.

“VTA failed us,” he said, adding that the impact extended beyond his restaurant to other businesses throughout the shopping center and surrounding community.

The property owner said three tenants have already left because of the construction project.

Other business owners in the area fear they may face similar closures despite recent financial assistance from VTA. Last month, the agency distributed grants to several affected businesses to help offset losses, though Galindo said the aid was far from enough to recover what his restaurant lost.

VTA said it has provided more than $265,000 in microgrants to impacted businesses so far and plans to issue additional assistance in the future.

While the agency declined to discuss La Grullensa specifically on camera, it released a statement expressing disappointment over the closure and acknowledging the hardships caused by nearby rail construction.

“We are saddened to see a longtime member of our business community close his doors,” the statement read. “VTA recognizes the challenges of nearby light rail construction and has worked to provide support through financial assistance, advertising, outreach efforts and measures aimed at reducing disruption whenever possible.”