SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Just in time for the holiday shopping season.
A section of Dakota Avenue or State Highway 37 that runs through the heart of downtown Huron opened on Tuesday after more than six months of street construction.
“It’s very exciting. It’s been a long time coming,” said Mary Neugebauer of Diamonds in the Rough men’s and women’s clothing store. “It’s a wonder that it’s open for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.”
“Welcome back,” Bush Fullerton of Potters Shoes said on Wednesday. “We have a lot to be thankful for.”
Although Fullerton is thankful the street is open and for customer support, the street construction made for a complicated six months.
“One is access from the front of the building…,” Fullerton said.
Construction happened on Dakota Avenue, or SD Highway 37, from Market Street to 7th Street. No vehicles could park in front of stores during construction. Access to the highway from side streets was closed during construction. Sidewalks may have been open but at times, construction was right next to the sidewalk. At other points during construction, the sidewalks were blocked for construction.
Diamonds in the Rough and Potters Shoes are two of several retail, service, restaurant or bars and grills affected by a multi-year SD DOT construction projects. While the project will create a new streetscape for the downtown, there was pain to be endured from the project.
Although the local chamber president and representatives of three retail stores said they were thankful for community support during the construction, sales revenue did decrease in businesses.
“During this period we had a decrease in business revenue,” Laurie Shelton, the president and chief executive officer of the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau said of impacted business. For some, the revenue dropped by as much as 60%, she said.
“You are talking 50% to 70% decrease in sales for some,” said Rhonda Sprecher of Don’t Spill the Beans, a coffee shop in Huron.
She has two drive-thrus and sales dropped off for those during construction. Fullerton noted that sales to older customers were down during road construction.
“They are less likely to walk as far as (younger customers),” Fullerton said.
Retailers and other businesses responded to construction with chamber-sponsored promotions and their own events and specials.
Sprecher said she emphasized nearby parking.
Neugebauer worked with others on a date night Friday event where participants stayed open until 8 p.m. on four Fridays. “We saw some success with that,” she said “We heard from other businesses that they appreciated that.”
The chamber sponsored several promotions and stores offered specials and retailers emphasized nearby parking during the construction to help offset the challenges of construction. Customers were also directed to use the rear entrances of businesses.
“I’d say 90% to 95% of us had rear access,” Sprecher said. “(SD DOT) did a good job of keeping side roads open.”
Sprecher and Fullerton said they support the SD DOT project because it will improve the city’s downtown. They cited improved walkability and better looking downtown as some of the improvements.
“This is a once in a generation project so you do plan ahead, you tighten your belt,” Fullerton said.
Still, Sprecher said the state’s governor’s office of economic development (GOED) and the Small Business Administration in South Dakota, could do a better job of helping businesses cope with large street construction projects.
“At this time there are no resources,” Shelton said of what’s available from GOED or SBA. But the chamber and others continue to work with state agencies on any possible options, she said.
Some of the best help in the next month would be influx of holiday shoppers, Shelton said.
Downtown shoppers will notice the improved street and ultimately, the finished product in the spring, Shelton said. The construction will help keep Huron’s downtown vibrant but so will shoppers, she said.
“We really encourage everyone to go downtown,” Shelton said.
For a business such as Potter’s Shoes holiday sales are a big part of revenue, Fullerton said.
Supporting local businesses such as those coming off of construction helps other businesses and it helps to ensure that locally-owned businesses remain, Neugebauer said.
