North Broadway businesses seek to overcome construction

May 30—Jeff Minske said he's watched customers walk across the North Broadway Avenue construction zone with minnow buckets in hand.

"Right now, no one can get here from the north unless they circle around," said the owner of Minske Bait, Tackle, and Custom Rods at 1117 N. Broadway Ave.

With three blocks of Broadway torn up in a redesign project that will eventually reach Civic Center Drive, Minske said people have been able to get to the McDonalds parking lot on the east side of the street, but had trouble finding a path to the west side. Others struggle to maneuver their boats through the alley to his parking lot.

It's led to frustration for some, and demonstrated the commitment of others.

"I feel really lucky and fortunate that I have some really dedicated customers," he said. "Once they found their way here the first time, it's not a problem for them."

Still, he estimates business is down 30 percent to 35 percent as his busy season starts.

His landlord, Dan Zimmer, is seeing a steeper decline in the laundromat he operates in the same building, which also includes Midwest Firearms, owned by Tom Evans.

Zimmer said the laundromat, with a wash-and-fold service, was starting to see business return from a COVID-19 decline before construction started.

"We were almost back to getting the revenue, and we're cut back to 50 percent again," he said.

IMPACT VARIES

A block south, Moka staff have also seen a decline of business, along with some unwelcome traffic.

"Since the road closes right before us, people are using our parking lot like that last detour," said Kirsten Rueb, manager of the North Broadway drive-thru coffee shop.

She said some drivers appeared to be unaware the business was open as they sped through the area. Construction crews eventually altered sign placement to slow traffic.

The businesses in the area are varied, with differing models for attracting customers, so impacts can differ.

Claire Landgraf, owner of Finery Bridal Chic, who recently bought the former Gingerbread House Bakery building at 1104 N. Broadway., said her customers typically make appointments, so she has the opportunity to provide detailed directions to get them to her door.

Plus, she said, "brides are a pretty determined group of folks."

Lucy Bishop said it took her less than a day to determine the best path through the construction to get to her nearby office at 922 N. Broadway Ave.

"It's not hard," she said of finding a path to Bishop Management or businesses in the construction zone. "You just have to be willing to try."

IMPACT WILL GROW

A group of business owners, which includes Bishop and Zimmer, are hoping to motivate more residents to try to maneuver around the construction, which is expected to grow

Kyle Schlink, Rochester Public Works construction services supervisor, said the work is expected to extend to Seventh Street on June 7, and the first section of work is likely to remain through August and into early September.

As a result, the business owners that currently have a closed street outside their door will see more join them, and some are starting to consider what that means.

Approximately three-quarters of a mile to the north, staff from 125 Live have been hosting discussions to find ways to encourage people to use North Broadway, as well as the section of Elton Hills Drive near the bridge, which will be closed for several months, starting in October.

"If people are going to be avoiding the Broadway corridor and Elton Hills is going to shut down, we are still going to be in a pickle," 125 Live Executive Director Sylwia Bujak Oliver said.

Dennis Wong, owner of Dunn Bros. at 120 Elton Hills Drive NW, said he's seen business pick up during the past month as COVID-19 restrictions have dropped, but he knows things can change if people start developing patterns that take them away from the area as construction continues.

"The best thing we can do is get word out," he said of reminding people that the businesses are open and ready to serve customers.

ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS

The expected first step is the creation of a coupon book featuring businesses in the area.

Alex Forrest, 125 Live's membership services and sales manager, is spearheading the effort by collecting offers from businesses to include, with the hope of handing them out during the Friday's Pop Up Med City Art Festival from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the center.

While coupon submissions are due by Tuesday, Cheryl Thode, 125 Live's community manager and marketing director, said it won't be the last opportunity for the neighboring businesses to get involved.

She said coupons can be added for books handed out at other community events.

The group is also is finding ways to support each other through social media, reminding others that they are open for business.

Other possibilities discussed have included the creation of a loyalty program to encourage customers to visit several businesses in the area and a photo scavenger hunt to drive added social media attention.

Sam Gill, director of programs for the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, compared the ideas to a "shop local" push with a focused location in the city.

With work continuing into 2022 as the Elton Hills Drive bridge is replaced and alleys near Broadway are addressed, the business owners said there will be time to work on a variety of ways to encourage residents to continue finding paths to their doors.

Larry McConaughey, owner of Silver Lake Liquor, said the key will be working together.

"It's always better with a team than when one person is doing something," he said.