ALLEGAN, Mich. —
Heather DeLong opened Allegan Floral and Gifts five years ago – and has survived a pandemic, opening as a start-up and last year’s downtown improvement project.
But she said that the construction that will create a roundabout at M-89, M-40 and Hubbard Street may be what shuts her down.
In a social media post Monday morning, DeLong said that if “things can’t be repaired by the end of this year” she will have to close her doors.
DeLong said she posted because she wanted the community to know where her business stands, and others in the area.
“I have customers come in often and, you know, they want to know how things are affecting Allegan Floral and the other businesses,” DeLong said. “And so, I just felt like I needed to let them know where I was kind of standing with things, because it is getting very rough for me here.”
Allegan Floral and Gifts experienced a 30% drop in sales since May, which DeLong attributes to the construction. She said she’s asked Facebook followers about how the construction is affecting them.
“I've done a survey on Facebook posts to see, you know, if they have been downtown and if they're coming into downtown, or if the detour is, you know, rerouting them and such,” she said. “And some people are not even attempting to come downtown with it right now.”
DeLong has spoken to other business owners, who she said feel the same way she does.
Last year with the downtown improvement project in Allegan, DeLong asked questions about what the city is doing for businesses during construction.
“It was just basically left up to the business owners to be creative and find ways to make the money,” she said.
Even though business is slow right now, DeLong said she is optimistic that once the construction finishes, business will drive back in.
“I'm fearful I get discouraged, and so some days I feel like, ‘Oh, I'm going to have to close,’” DeLong said. “But then that mindset kicks, and I made it as a beginning business so I can make it again. It's just very overwhelming some days.”
In an email to 13 ON YOUR SIDE, the Michigan Department of Transportation said that it is still on track to meet the open to traffic date on Aug. 23. Construction will continue this week into the weekend, weather permitting.