Craig Vondeylen
Construction is coming to an end in Fountain Square, just in time for the holiday shopping season. That's giving stores a chance to make up for lost time and lost business, although for some, the sought-after changes are arriving too late.
Fewer orange construction cones are in the street and there is less traffic congestion. That's a change from the past several months, when the street was dug up for the Cultural Trail addition.
On Virginia Avenue just north of Prospect Street, pavers are being installed and pedestrians can navigate the sidewalk, but they still need to watch where they step because the work is not yet complete. A little further down the street, most of the pavers are installed and street parking is available again.
It's been a challenge for businesses, many of which have signs in the window letting customers know they're still open for business. The work on the Cultural Trail began in March, and business owners were told it would be finished by July. But the project was plagued by unexpected delays and is now six months behind schedule.
Now business owners are hoping for the turnaround that they hoped the Cultural Trail would bring in the first place.
"We've had a few businesses fail," said Craig Vondeylen, Murphy Arts Building co-owner. "We've got a lot of folks wanting to come into the neighborhood now just because of the Cultural Trail. It was tough. The construction period was tough. Some of the delays we had during construction were really, really difficult and they caused a lot of difficulties for some of the businesses. But now that the parking is back, and things are opening up, it's starting to look good. Things are coming around, and it couldn't come at a better time. It's Thanksgiving time and it's the start of the Christmas shopping season and right now we need all the help we can get.
Around a half dozen business have closed in the last ten months. Eyewitness News interviewed some of those business owners and they believed that the construction project and lack of parking put a dent in their business. Luxor, a restaurant, closed down, although another business plans to open up in that location. A deli, a flower shop and a vintage antique shop also went out of business.
Gus Mascari bought a jewelry store in Fountain Square just before workers began ripping up the street.
"Traffic just dropped 75 percent," he said.
Mascari is hopeful with much of the project now done, his business will rebound and just in time for Christmas.
"We're hoping for the best, trying to do some marketing for the holidays and hopefully get some crowds back down here," he said.
A few businesses are still mired in the mess, like Naisa, which wants people to know they are open and like they're neighbors hoping for a bump in holiday business.
Fountain Square has also seen plenty of new businesses blossom recently, including the White Rabbit Cabaret, a music venue and club that helped host last weekend's Tonic Ball fundraiser for Second Helpings along with Radio Radio and Fountain Square Theatre; Revolucion, a new bar, a comic book shop, New Day Meadery and at least two restaurants.
Those who haven't seen Fountain Square in a while should find it much easier to navigate.
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