ATLANTA — As crews continue their work to try and get the water crisis under control, businesses say they're losing money for each minute it takes.
Small business owners added they have lost tens of thousands of dollars.
On Monday, parking was packed outside Big Dave's Cheesesteaks downtown off Forsyth Street NW, but it wasn't customers taking up the spots.
"There are things we have to fix. It's a heavy load," said Owner Derrick Hayes.
Restoration trucks lined the streets where the Atlanta water main break forced dozens of businesses to close down.
Hayes says the damage inside his flagship restaurant is devastating.
"There was water running out the walls, the ceilings," Hayes said. "The floor is starting to buckle. We got a lot of water in here."
Hayes is paying his employees to help clean up the damage to ensure they don't miss a paycheck while the restaurant is closed.
"That's what I really care about. I care about my employees. I don't want my employees to miss an hour's worth of pay, a day's worth of pay, a minute's worth of pay," he said.
Even with people working around the clock to clean up the damage, Hayes says it will be weeks before they can reopen the downtown location, and he'll lose tens of thousands of dollars in revenue.
"Every single business owner that I have spoken to that had their doors closed or who had less traffic in their business over the weekend has said the same thing, that they've lost out on tens of thousands of dollars," said Devin Barrington-Ward, Managing Director of the Black Futurist Group.
He advocates for small business owners and is asking the Atlanta City Council to establish a $5 million relief fund for people who lost money due to the water main breaks.
"This time and in future instances because we know that our water and sewer are aging. So, it's not a matter of if this happens again. It's a matter of when," he said.
Hayes added small business owners need all the help they can get to get customers back through the doors.
"Because if we all don't win together, we are all going to lose as one, the same way we're winning. I suggest that we stick together and get through this," said Hayes.
Atlanta City Council is hearing Barrington-Ward's proposal for the $5 million relief fund at its Monday meeting.