IRVINE

As construction workers struck Cirque du Soleil’s blue-and-yellow tent Tuesday, life returned to normal for merchants in the Irvine Spectrum.

About 150,000 people had come to see the Canadian extravaganza during its two-month run at the city’s largest entertainment center. While Spectrum’s restaurant managers were thrilled with the crowds, the magic never arrived at other businesses.

Circus-goers “stopped by the store to get directions where they’d find some food, but not to shop,” said Byran Newell, who works at Houdini’s Magic Shop.

“The circus did not necessarily worsen the situation, but it didn’t bring the boom that management said it was going to be.”

Management saw it differently.

“It was very positive from a visitation and sales perspective, that’s for sure,” said Michael Piazzola, Spectrum general manager.