Cherry St. Businesses Deal With Construction Obstacles Amidst COVID-19 Challenges

Cherry Street is home to a number of shops, restaurants and salons and all those business owners are having to deal with the current construction along with the pandemic.

“It's been a challenge to get people in our door simply because the construction looks daunting” says Kimberly Lee. 

Lee has been at Smoke Woodfire Grill for 8 years. She said COVID-19, along with the construction, has impacted how many people come through their doors. Lee said the regulars still stop by, but the construction has kept a lot of customers away.

"The construction is holding us back there because when people say 'I'm hungry let's go to Cherry street' they think 'no Cherry Street's a nightmare let's go to Utica square, let's go to Brookside 

to find something to eat'” said Lee.

Jeremy Buller owns Ascent, a clothing shop that sits at the corner of 15th and Peoria. He said the construction is also causing some confusion about parking.

"The street in front has been torn up, it's been a mess. We've seen people parking across the street and walking over, and what people haven't realized is that we have a parking lot in the back” said Buller.

He said even though the construction may look like a headache, it's not as bad as it seems. He encourages everyone to come out and support these businesses.

"Do not be scared of the construction. I come out to Cherry Street everyday, it's fine. If there's any congestion, it's typically not bad” said Buller.

Lee says she and the rest of the staff are keeping a positive mindset, remembering at the end of the day, they're in it together.

"We know that we're in it together, we're helping each other out and just trying to keep our heads up," said Lee.

Construction on Cherry street is set to be complete Fall 2020.