7 days ago
'We were terrified': Downtown Branson businesses reflect on Memorial Day within heavy construction zone
BRANSON, Mo. — The City of Branson is currently working on the development of the Downtown Streetscape Project, which it says will strengthen core infrastructure and support the downtown business community as well as visitors.
The project includes replacing underground utilities, improving sidewalk accessibility, upgrade lighting and enhance overall safety in the area.
The construction zone is located in the middle of dozens of various small businesses, which had some of them concerned about how this disruptive project could hurt sales entering into last Memorial Day weekend.
'Before the weekend it was just hit and miss. I mean, it was really rough.' said Samantha Krikorian, a sales associate at Kilroy's. 'They'd have to come in our doorway and just to get out of the way to move for other people, you know. And it was it was rough. We were we were terrified coming in this weekend.'
Despite the fears, she says the construction brought more visitors towards their business, which resulted in Kilroy's experiencing an increase in sales on Memorial Day compared to last year.
Steve Hartley, the co-owner of dick's 5 and 1, says he also benefitted from the project. Both Krikorian and Hartley state that the City of Branson has been clear and responsive when communicating with the community.
'The city has been great.' says Hartley, 'I can't say enough that Michael Woods and his team, they've been so gracious and so compatible to working with us. The disruption has been minimal. I give them all the credit.'
He adds that the at-times loud and intrusive construction is a small price to pay for the long-lasting benefits the project will bring downtown Branson.
'There's light at the end of the tunnel and we're almost there. The project is going to be great. All the amenities, all the underground is now updated, refreshed sidewalks, refreshed streets, and then all the visibility, the esthetics that it's going to bring. It's just going to make the historic downtown experience that much better.'
According to the City of Branson, Phase 1 will be completed sometime in June, with Phase 2 to follow shortly after. The overall project will be completed 'no later than October 15' of this year.
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