A 'Hardee' Impact

Hardee's business is hurting and some truckers who pass through Warsaw are ticked about the new ban on trucks in the Lake Village Shopping Center in Warsaw.

The ban effectively eliminated the most popular commercial hangout for truckers along U.S. 30 in Warsaw. The nearest 24-hour businesses that cater to truck drivers are in Columbia City and Bourbon.

The ban is the result of improvements to the shopping center's parking lot which were assisted by the city of Warsaw.

All traffic entering the main entrance to the shopping center and two side entrances now passes through gates that restrict height. A string of concrete barriers now line the parking lot, including the east end, where more than a dozen trucks normally parked. Also, the entire lot was resurfaced.

The upgrades were made in part to improve traffic flow, which had grown more confusing with increased retail development in recent years.

The impact on sales at Hardee's was immediately noticeable. Sales are down 15 percent to 20 percent, said general manager Jeff Wells.

"It was a vital chunk of our business," Wells said. "In today's economy, every dollar counts."

The store has reduced its third shift staff by one worker, and management will watch sales figures closely to determine whether keeping the dining room open 24 hours a day is merited. Furthermore, the store may look at discontinuing its 24-hour service or relocating out of the shopping center, Wells said.

Meanwhile truckers are taking their business elsewhere. Some are going down the street to McDonald's, which has a designated parking area for recreational vehicles and trucks.

But a spokesman for the store said he doubts the store will pick up much business because of difficult access to the restaurant and because the store isn't open 24 hours.

One trucker at McDonald's said he went there because of the truck ban at Hardee's and was indifferent about the issue. But another trucker who drives a daily route between Chicago and Fort Wayne said the ban is an insult to truckers.

"It was a slap in the face that was unnecessary," said Don Ski.

"The town itself has not heard the last of this from over-the-road truckers and their associations," Ski said.

But Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the decision to ban trucks was not the city's. The city was given a road easement stretching from both sides of the shopping center and will maintain the crossroad.

The management firm covered the cost of paving the parking lot and installing the cement blocks and height restrictors.

But banning trucks was a decision made by the property manager, Wiggins said.

"I don't want to do anything to deprive any business of their livelihood, but that was not our decision," Wiggins said.

Calls to F.C. Tucker, a management firm in Indianapolis that oversees the shopping center, were not returned today.

The decision was likely influenced by the city, though. Street superintendent Kim Leake said last month the city wouldn't want to pave the easement strip if trucks would be allowed to park and possibly damage it. "We're not going to do all this extensive work to have the heavy trucks tear it up," Kim said.

Wells and some others, though, argue that the paved area near Hardee's where truck park had remained in good condition.

Meanwhile, representatives of stores within the complex appear divided over whether it was a good idea.

Kmart store manager Karl Heid said he wants truckers to know his store had nothing to do with the decision. Although the pavement and restrictions have enhanced the appearance, the store has noticed a loss is business from the truckers.

The drivers often bought jeans, shoes and snacks, Heid said.

But on the other hand, the parked trucks made snow removal difficult and overall improvements are nice aesthetically, he said.

The store manager at Wendy's restaurant said they depended on truckers during the final two hours of business each day. That clientele has virtually disappeared, said assistant manager Amy Puckett.

She said she opposed the changes.

"I don't see the point of it," Puckett said.

Rochelle Sprunger, who works and shops in the shopping center, said she believes the changes are an improvement.

"The road out here was awful and confusing," she said, motioning to the east side of the lot near Blockbuster Video.

As for banning trucks, Sprunger seemed to agree. "It looked like a truck rest area," she said.

Management for Blockbuster Video is prohibited from commenting on local issues.