PLOVER – As orange barrels line State 54 and Portage County B, businesses on either side of the highway want people to remember they are still open, and customers can still access their shops, stores and restaurants.
Barrels and detours along that stretch of highway allow for fewer direct access points to businesses along the north and south of Portage County B. Some local shop and restaurant owners told the Stevens Point Journal they have seen a decline in business since construction started last month and are concerned the drop will continue for months until the project is finished late this year.
Russ Ehlinger, the owner of Mission Coffee House in the Artist & Fare complex, said business is down by almost half of its normal profits in the last month. Many drivers typically avoid areas with road work and detours altogether, but Ehlinger said it's not as difficult to navigate as some people might assume.
Construction on that stretch started in April and will continue through late November. The first stage – from Hoover Avenue to Interstate 39 – is expected to be complete in mid-June, with eastbound traffic lanes closed entirely and one westbound lane still open. The second stage will close both westbound lanes and open one eastbound lane.
The intersection of Portage County B and Hoover Avenue will be closed for 14 days from mid-June through the end of the month. From July 1 through late November, reduced lanes will be open in the construction zone.
Businesses along that route are still accessible, although people have to navigate some detours to get to their destinations.
How are businesses doing?
On the north side of Portage County B, drivers can still access businesses off of Hoover Avenue and get from Metro Market and WoodTrust Bank all the way down to AmericInn.
Mike Witte, the president and CEO of the Portage County Business Council, told the Stevens Point Journal he has heard from some Plover business owners who have been concerned about the construction, including Ehlinger.
On a Facebook video series called “Monday Mornings with Mike,” Witte features local businesses throughout Portage County. On May 6, Witte told viewers not to worry about the construction and assured people they could still access the coffee shop using Hoover Avenue.
“Here is a time where we need to step up for all of our businesses in Plover, and Mission Coffee being one of them,” Witte said in the video.
Ehlinger said this construction project caught him by surprise, and he has had to make adjustments more reactively as the project started and will continue through its various phases. He's especially concerned about the two-week stretch where the intersection of Portage County B and Hoover Avenue will be closed. He said he wonders if he should just close the shop during that time.
"We're in survival mode," he said.
Ehlinger said the construction has pushed him to think more creatively and outside of the normal Mission Coffee operations. The coffee shop will be hosting more events, like a monthly car show that will run from May through October. Ehlinger is also re-launching Connections Lounge, a social gathering space that offers alcohol and food after 5 p.m. at Artist & Fare. The lounge will reopen in June, partnering with Timekeeper Distillery to offer local wine, beers and spirits, along with appetizers and other food from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Ehlinger said Mission will emphasize hosting wedding and baby showers and other events, as well.
Other businesses have helped, too. Ehlinger said Steel King Industries and Skyward have started brewing Mission Coffee for their staff. That effort and loyal customers who have made more of a point to come in have helped tremendously, Ehlinger said.
"Our customers have been so dedicated and loyal," Ehlinger said. "We're so appreciative and grateful."
Marc Buttera, owner of O’so Brewing in Artist & Fare, said the brewery hasn’t been affected by the construction project, and if drivers can get to Metro Market, they can find O’so nearby. Of the project itself, Buttera said the highway will look great when it’s finished.
Likewise, Hometown Pharmacy has not experienced a drop in customers so far during construction. Owner Kent Udulutch said the construction has been inconvenient for both employees and customers, but the pharmacy is more of a destination for customers. Future phases of the project might make navigation more difficult, but Udulutch said customers can always call if they have concerns about routes to access the pharmacy.
In the long run, the construction project will help build a better Plover, Udulutch said.
Businesses on the south side of Portage County B are also seeing drops in business because detours to access them have drivers taking longer drives and more turns to reach them. They can all be accessed off of Hoover Avenue and Maple Drive, as well.
Mike Masgay, owner of Mikey’s, said the restaurant has definitely seen a drop in guests coming in and expects it to worsen in June as the construction project reaches further phases. The restaurant’s regulars still make an effort to get there, and Masgay said he appreciates the effort customers go through to navigate the detours and dine at Mikey’s.
There’s additional support, too
While a long construction project will take its toll on local stores, shops and restaurants, business owners have seen support from village and county leaders, as well as local organizations that have made efforts to help residents and visitors find their way through detours.
Steve Kunst, the administrator for the village of Plover, said the construction project has been in the works for a few years, and Portage County leaders have held multiple meetings with local business owners leading up to the start of construction. The project team has been hosting bi-weekly meetings to update business owners on the project and answer questions along the way, he said.
Kunst said he attended one of the meetings held by Portage County and the Department of Transportation last year. He said it was well-attended, and many business owners shared the sentiment that while the project is disruptive to their business operations, improvements are needed, as the road surface in that area is in rough shape.
One effort to help businesses has been wayfinding signs. Kunst said wayfinding signs within the road right of way are handled through the Department of Transportation. More signs are allowed during construction, as long as they follow DOT protocols. Signs on private property are handled through the village, Kunst said. The village is flexible with businesses looking for additional signs during construction, Kunst said, and village officials are working with businesses to help them be as visible as possible throughout the project.
The Plover Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is also working to help visitors and residents navigate construction to access affected businesses.
Malorie Paine, the CVB's executive director, said the organization is working to encourage visitors and residents to continue visiting the businesses. The group unveiled its redesigned website Thursday, aiming to better connect visitors with all local businesses, Paine said. That website also includes information about construction and how to navigate detours to access businesses, she said.
More Portage County construction news:Here's how road construction will impact your travel plans in Stevens Point, Plover and Portage County
Stevens Point Streetwise:Mama Elda's is for sale, The Wooden Chair delivers and more local business news
Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.
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