Construction that has stretched along Sixth Street has created new challenges and in some cases new opportunities for businesses located on nearby streets.
“It’s kind of been an inconvenience, for a while there was a huge pile of dirt and bricks and stuff out of our front door and a big hole in the ground. It was kind of a mess, it has definitely affected foot traffic in the area,” Carla Ketner, owner of Chapters Books and Gifts located on the corner of Seward and 6th streets, said.
Even businesses farther away from the direct line of construction are feeling the impacts of the road work. The Second Closet has seen a decrease in sales.
“Overall our sales in April were down from April a year ago”, store owner Tammy Mackie said. “Overall we are down a little bit.”
Mackie is using other means though to try to make the best of the situation.
“[We are] just stepping up the social media game a little bit, just making sure I take lots of product pictures so people know what’s here and maybe have a reason to come down,” Mackie said.
Mackie is not the only one making changes as Ketner is leaning into the construction heavily to create a fun environment for her young shoppers.
“We decided to try and make the best of it, so we posted pictures of construction on our social media and invited parents with little kids who like construction to come down and the kids can sit in front of the door and watch while mom shops.”
Other businesses, like Cafe on the Square feel like the construction has not made much of a difference in the amount of people that come in, but in the attitude of some customers.
“There is a lot of complaining, people do complain about it, and they’ll talk to us about anything,” owner Audra Jensen said.
Many owners believe that the construction will better the community.
“It’s a hassle right now but in the long run it’s a good thing,” Ketner said.
“Definitely [this will be worth it] because we won’t have as many potholes, the whole drive will be easier. People are already saying ‘it will be worth it in the long run’ that’s what our customers tell us a lot,” Mackie said.
