Downtown Warsaw merchants are remaining optimistic about their businesses getting back to normal after Center Street is reopened - just as long as it's done soon.

One block of downtown Center Street, between Lake and Indiana streets, was closed to traffic in late September for a "test" renovation project. The renovation plans included laying new sewer lines; rebuilding and repaving the street; pouring new sidewalks; and installing new street lights, seating and trash receptacles.

The work also has included removing sidewalks from in front of some businesses, and losing parking places to construction equipment.

Many merchants said they heard rumors that the work would not be done until Thanksgiving, news that's not especially encouraging to those businesses that rely heavily on Christmas sales.

"This is prime time right here," said Heather Mishler at Crownover Jewelry on the south side of East Center Street. "We're a seasonal business and they're cutting into our business."

Mishler's sentiments were echoed by neighboring businessman Jerry Kramer, who owns Mountain Music: "There's no good time to do it, but this is the worst time."

Brian Beam, manager of Beam & Beam Clothiers on South Buffalo Street, said Christmas for retailers begins in November.

"If they're done in the next week or so, we'll be in decent shape," he said.

Kevin Moore, Male Fashions, had the same sense of urgency. "It's got to be soon," he said. "They have to get out of here in the next couple of weeks or it will affect our Christmas business."

Pat Donkers, of Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream & Yogurt, was the only merchant interviewed who was relieved the construction was going on in the winter instead of summer.

"We would have died if they had done it during the summer," she said.

Donkers, who said her business has dropped about 20 percent since Center Street construction began, expressed concern that street crews are not working overtime on evenings or weekends.

"We want to know what the plan is on getting things done early," she said.

Knowing what the city is planning - even for businesses not affected by the construction, such as Le Gourmet Chocolate Shoppe or Creative Floral Designs - is something of a sore spot with most merchants.

All of them said they were not notified of the planned construction, nor have they been given any kind of schedule or told when the project is expected to be completed.

Jackie Long at the Chocolate Shoppe heard that the crews were supposed to pour cement this week; Cathy Folds, at Crownover, heard it should be done by Thanksgiving.

"I have had nobody come around here and tell me personally anything on this," Kramer said. "Why didn't they work overtime on the nice days last month?"

Jo Kennedy, of Printing Plus, on the northeast corner of Buffalo and Center streets, said their business didn't suffer much until the sidewalks were removed.

"We've died since they tore the sidewalk up," she said.

They also had no notice of when their sidewalks would be removed.

"One day (last week) we had a sidewalk and 15 minutes later it was gone," she said.

All of the merchants said they were looking forward to the completed work - just as long as it's completed soon.

"It's a wonderful thing that they want to make the downtown look nicer, but a bad time of the year," Kramer said. "They're actually voiding out what they're trying to do."

"We're really looking foward to getting the downtown revitalized," Donkers said. "Let's work that overtime, let's communicate a little bit more. The sooner they get it done, the better."

The business owners said they are afraid customers will become so tired of the inconvenience that they will stop coming downtown for good.

"I'm afraid people will get accustomed to the streets being torn up and people will find alternate routes," Kramer said. He also said the work on Indiana Street and the railroad intersection construction was poorly timed to coincide with the Center Street project. [[In-content Ad]]