Hard times before good times

SHORELINE — Even propping open the front door won’t help attract many shoppers at businesses located on a 1-mile stretch of Aurora Avenue North, where construction is underway.

Such a tactic may welcome dust and dirt, however.

As improvements are made to the portion of roadway from 145th to 165th streets as part of Phase 1 of Aurora Avenue N. redevelopment, business owners say they have experienced anywhere from zero to 70 percent decrease in business.

While no businesses have closed, Shoreline City Council members, accompanied by city staff, have been visiting owners once a week to assess the impact of construction and how, if possible, the city can help them survive – if not thrive – through the duration of construction.

Visitation rights

The reaction of business owners to Council members’ drop-by visits have ranged from most appreciative to critical.

The owner of Salon La Belle was grateful that Council members stopped by her salon to discuss construction.

“They care about us,” said Hong Zhao, whose shop is in the 15000 block of Aurora Avenue N.

“They do care and I appreciate it,” said Zhao, 39, who has been in business for almost three years. She added: “It is difficult for small businesses.”

Zhao, who said business is down 20 percent, learned during a recent city visit that the section in front of her salon is slated to be finished with curbs, driveways and sidewalks by the end of the month. The construction crews have been very cooperative, she said, and have been careful to shut down electricity and water in the middle of the night.

Council members brought sketches of how the roadway will look when completed and Zhao said she expects the highway to look “really beautiful,” and hopes it will attract more customers.

“I just asked how long before they are done,” Zhao said. “That is a question (my) customers normally ask.”

The owner of Lupe’s Tienda and Mexican Grocery Store said Council members stopped by her store, although she wasn’t there. Lupe Peach, 54, mostly runs the small grocery store by herself, but on occasion a friend covers shifts.

Council members left information saying that if she needs to talk, to call them.

“What can I call them about?” said Peach, who said her business is down 20 percent. “If business is hurting, are they going to pay the rent?”

The store, offering everything from tortillas to native candy, is one of two in the area, said Peach, who has been in business for about three years. Customers usually buy bread, tortillas, soda, hot sauces and spices, she said. Some of her items are sold at the grocery store, although most are not, she said.

While the parking lot usually looks full of cars, Peach said most vehicles belong to people enrolled at a nearby nursing school.

“It helps to say something, but how can (Council members) help?” Peach said.

Impacted most to least

Destination businesses, such as doctor offices, seem to be weathering the construction storm, while others that rely on drive-by customers are suffering more.

Mary Do, manager of family-owned Mary’s Top Nails, said business is down 70 percent. Some days, she only sees two customers. When Council members visited, they gave her a picture of how the highway will look when completed and told her they are considering advertising, she said.

Before construction, Do said “sometimes it was too busy” with 30-40 customers a day.

“Before (construction) I had five people work here,” Do, 47, said. “Now, it is just two or three.”

Northwest Family Chiropractic has not experienced a decrease in business due to construction, said Rebekah Kiehl, chiropractic assistant. Most of the clients are referred through insurance companies, she said. The roadwork is making more customers late, but she said staff is giving them more leeway with appointment times.

Walk-abouts

On the two-hour walks, usually scheduled on Wednesday afternoons, Council members and city staff visit 5-10 businesses. The walks started on the west side of 155th Street and are moving south.

The “walk-abouts” grew out of discussions by Council members to be “more in touch” with business owners, said Aurora Corridor project manager Kirk McKinley.

“We ask ‘how is business’ and they try to give us an assessment of how much it is up or down,” McKinley said.

Fewer customers are a result of traffic decreasing by 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles a day, he said.

“The sooner we finish, the better,” McKinley said. “But people are looking forward to the final product.”

Councilwoman Janet Way, who has participated in two walks, said it is a priority to spend “quality time” with business owners. The owners are sincere in the conversations, Way said, and voice ideas about what can be improved. Most owners are optimistic, she said. Typical conversation topics include access to businesses and requests for more turn lanes when a median is installed, she said.

“They all seem very gracious and welcome us,” Way said. “They are happy to have people from the city asking for their opinion.”

Help is on the way

Small business assistance programs are in place and city staff is gearing up to work with businesses on some marketing, said Tom Boydell, city economic development manager, although the “right mechanism,” is still being determined.

City staff have received feedback about advertising and mail outs from business owners, McKinley said. Some owners have expressed interest in taking advantage of low-interest loan programs to help them make it through the slow times, he said.

“We try to ask what we can do from a marketing standpoint,” McKinley said. “We just need people to tell us what they need and hopefully we can respond with tools to help them out.”

Business owners are pleased with the prospect of marketing, Way said, which may be in the form of an advertisement or mailing. She also said staff hope to imprint access signs, located on the edge of construction, with business names so motorists can find businesses more easily.