SKOWHEGAN (AP) – Some business owners in Skowhegan say their cash registers are quieter because of the traffic detours to accommodate filming of the HBO movie “Empire Falls.”

The downtown rotary was closed during shooting last Friday, Monday and Tuesday, slowing down business activity.

Key Appliance owner Doreen Poulin said she lost thousands of dollars in sales while the streets in town were closed.

“We’re all willing to give a little, but there’s a limit to how many days they can block off the downtown and still let us make a living and pay our employees,” Poulin said.

Variety Drug Store owner Kevin Holland said keeping cars from the downtown rotary made it hard for customers needing to fill prescriptions.

“I love having them here and understand that they have to make a living, but we have to make a living after they’re gone,” Holland said.

Others, like Sumner Hayward at Hilltop Antiques, said he also lost business, but thinks the downtown ultimately will benefit.

“Considering what the film is going to do for the town, it’s worth it,” Hayward said. “If someone wanted to buy yesterday, they’ll come back again.”

The movie will bring people back to town and money will be spent, maybe indirectly, maybe two years from now. I think it’s the most exciting thing that’s happened in town since (President Dwight D.) Eisenhower was here.”

Town Manager Patricia Dickey and Police Chief Butch Asselin met with a movie official earlier this week to determine how to minimize the film’s future impact on downtown businesses. Dickey is also collecting comments and complaints from business owners.

Some of the movie company trailers will be moved from busy commercial areas to more out-of-the-way locations, and officials are looking at ways to avoid blocking off streets.

AP-ES-09-18-03 1404EDT