Update on Historic Downtown Branson
As I've mentioned in prior blogs, Historic Downtown Branson has been going through a major overhaul. The revitalization began on April 1 and is aimed to upgrade the underground infrastructure, to make our sidewalks ADA Compliant (not sure how we got away with it the way it was for so long!), and to finally make this awesome and oldest part of town a beautiful destination all it's own.
All of the businesses of "old downtown" have been really anxious for all of this to take place as when it rained really hard, many of these businesses would have issues with water backing up and coming through the front door! It's been a real mess for many years, and now that the pipes and drainage has been replaced, there wont be the anxious worry about the water. Though Enchanted Memories didn't have this issue, we are grateful for the upgrades for our neighboring businesses.
As they have been working on the "underground", they have also pulled all of the sidewalks up. We haven't had a street in-front of our store since the end of March, and then... they removed the sidewalks, also. Talk about a small business kill! It's been very hard for all of us. Financially. When the sidewalks were removed, mats were laid in-front of all of the businesses so that customers could make their way in. That was a nightmare! First the customers had to park farther away, then they had to make their way down uneven black mats to get where they were going or to "stroll" the businesses of our Historic Downtown. Not much of that going on in the last months, and we know of one man that fell and broke his leg just down from us. Due to the mats!
Finally... finally... our sidewalks are back outside of our doors. Praise God! Customers can walk to us again! They then, this last week, closed off the only cross street we had so that they could lay the new Branson B in the intersection. It looks great, I will give them that. Not sure how long this is going to be closed off but we sure do need it open again soon.
The newest update is ~ they have told us the road will be paved next week. It will take two days as they are going to pave one side on one night, and the other side the next. We have also heard that this will enable the road to be open again. Another Praise God! Did I mention how hard this is to the businesses of downtown? Especially the southside of Main.
I have added a few photos so that you can see the old sidewalk compared to the new and so you can see what's happening at the intersection of Main and Commercial.
I will be sure to update again next week once the road has been paved and reopened. In the meantime, if you're a praying person, please pray for us and all of the businesses of Historic Downtown Branson and please remember to Shop Small, Ya'all. It's never been more important as it is right now.
THE OLD!
THE NEW - Southside of Main Street!
THE NEW - Northside of Main Street!
The intersection of Commercial and Main Street!