Construction commotion for downtown Buchanan businesses

BUCHANAN, Mich. -- Buchanan's downtown stretch is completely torn up as crews create a new streetscape and upgrade sewer and water lines.

"We're taking out 80- and 100-year-old infrastructure in the road right now," said City Manager Tony McGhee. "We've kept it so people are accessible to all the businesses."

Outside Gary Z's Sub Shop is free water and Gatorade for the construction workers.

"We've seen all our locals, we haven't slowed down a bit," said owner Mariah Molitor. "Our locals are really coming in for us."

But it's not so easy for all the businesses along Front Street. Some are finding cracked windows from semis driving by, some are getting notices that water will be temporarily shut off, and some are just struggling to get customers through the doors during the commotion of construction.

"This side of the street, we are like blocked off, there's construction all the way around us, you have to take the long detour to get to our back lot," said Alicia Munson, Hilltop's Creekside Cafe manager.

Hilltop's Creekside Cafe is seeing a 30-50 percent cut in sales during the week, Munson said.

"There has been talk about dropping down to a small crew, just so we can keep doors open," she said.

"Even with all this construction going on, we still offer great restaurants, great antique stores, and Boutique dispensaries," said Thomas Jolly of Thomas Jolly Antiques on Front Street.

Luckily for the antique shop owners, like Jolly, their business can continue online.

Still, businesses like Hilltop's Creekside Cafe are getting creative, even dressing staff up as eggs and bacon!

"We said, 'Hey, if you bring us in a receipt from any of the local downtown businesses that's been within the last 7 days, we'll give you 10% off of your meal,'" Munson said.

All for a new downtown Buchanan streetscape, which will turn Front Street into what's called a "tabletop street."

"It won't be your traditional sidewalk, curb, roadway, it'll all be one level from door to door of the businesses, it creates a flexible space," McGhee said. "When you need it to function like a traditional street, it does, or when you want to shut it down to have a festival or event, then all the businesses can spill out into that area and it becomes like a pedestrian plaza."

Until the project wraps in November, it'll be a battle for Buchanan businesses.

"We're all supporting each other, we're all in this boat together," Munson said.

"Buchanan has a lot to offer, so people will get beyond the construction. And the construction will eventually end," Jolly said.