Summer construction can be a headache, but a handful of Caldwell business owners say work in the downtown area has started to impact their wallets -- for worse and better.
Down Main Street in Caldwell, work to improve the roadway and revitalize the historic street has been ongoing for months.
"Main Street has not been repaired or worked on in like, 20 plus years," said Keri Smith-Sigman, economic development specialist for the City of Caldwell. "That is an old road, so at some point, that construction had to take place."
Business owner Betty Maier says work on the old street, which began in June, is losing her foot traffic, affecting her business inside Maddy's Plaza.
"We need the public to stand up and do something," Maier said. "We cannot do this much longer...we're running out of options."
But across the street, Indian Creek Steakhouse has had a record summer, despite the construction taking place right outside the main entrance.
"We're hitting numbers that we've never seen before in the summer, you know, with all of the activities going on, it's been great," said Dillon Wickel, owner of the restaurant.
And other business owners say the end result of the construction is worth the current inconvenience.
"I'm so excited for the change. It doesn't bother me, I guess," said Rebecca Whitmire, owner of Salon Elevation. "It has to be ugly before it can be pretty, and downtown Caldwell has needed this for a very long time."
Work on Caldwell's Main Street and 7th Street going into Indian Creek Plaza is expected to be completed by October, but the plaza itself won't be open until next spring.
