Road and bridge improvement projects are going on all over Michigan, and some major changes are happening in East Lansing.  Work is under way on improving the intersection of Hagadorn Road and Hannah Boulevard by adding left turn lanes similar to those at Lake Lansing Road and Saginaw Street. Officials say the intersection is so busy all turns should be regulated.  Meanwhile, also on Hagadorn, the Ingham County Road Commission is replacing and widening the bridge over the Red Cedar River.  The old 90-foot, four-lane roadway is to be replaced with a 117-foot, 6-lane bridge. The timing of the March through August projects is twofold: to take advantage of reduced traffic in the area when students at Michigan State University headed home for summer and to complete the work before the school’s heavy traffic football season begins in the fall. While the improvements are likely to be appreciated when they’re completed, for some, especially businesses along the construction route, the projects have made a severely congested traffic area even more difficult to navigate.

Nestled right in the middle of the orange barrels in the Hannah Shopping Center is Sultan’s Place, offering authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. The East Lansing business in operation since 1995 found its business dropping off significantly when the project began.  “I lost 30 percent of my business in the first two weeks of the construction,” said owner Bassam Mahmoud.  He said his lunchtime foot traffic was drastically affected. Left unprepared for the extent of the falloff, Mahmoud was forced to cut back to offset the losses.  He reduced work staff from 15 full- and part-timers to just a handful. “I ended up working more hours myself because I couldn’t afford to pay people to be there when there was no business,” Mahmoud said. If the slowdown had continued, Mahmoud said he even considered changing or closing his business. “With a background as a pharmacist I have other options and seriously considered them.”

The loss in business, fortunately, has only been temporary. The lunchtime traffic came back, slowly but surely, and weekend business picked up as well. The Palestinian-born owner said what he likes best about this country is the flexibility of Americans.  “They adapt easily to things, even hard ones,“ he said. “I knew they would eventually adapt to this as well.“ Mahmoud also credits his restaurant’s uniqueness for the rebound. “You want authentic food, then you come to us. After a while, people come, construction or no construction!”

Another business affected by the construction is BA Florist. Lori Hollowick’s shop is right in the middle of it all—sitting on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Hagadorn Road. She has construction not only in front of her building but also on the side of it. Crews showed up ready to go the day before her busiest day of the year—Valentine’s Day. “I ran out and said, ‘Don’t you dare!’” she remembered. “I told them to come back later, and they were back—on February 15^th!”

While Hollowick’s busiest day was saved from the orange barrels, her busiest months were not. She said the construction closed roads and has caused traffic tie-ups right through her peak season—May to August. The spring and summer are when Hollowick makes the majority of her profits—everything from Mother’s Day bouquets to corsages for prom to arrangements for weddings and graduations. Part of the project forced the closure of one of Hollowick’s driveways, but with that in mind she was able to work a deal to keep full accessibility a bit longer. “I told them limiting delivery routes during the busy month of June would really hurt my business, so they agreed to allow me to keep the Hagadorn drive open until July.” Hollowick even resorted to offering discount coupons to bring business in. “I wanted to reward those who chose to keep their business with us,” she said.

Despite it all, Hollowick said she’s been lucky. She says while wedding planning does require some on-site meetings, she’s not totally dependent on foot traffic. “Many of the orders that come in are over the phone or online; so those who don’t want to deal with the construction, don’t really have to.”

Another East Lansing business affected by the construction is the How Sweet It Is Fudge and Candy Company. The business is also located on Hagadorn Road and has been there some nine years. Owner Lenny Cusenza said like the others he’s lost foot traffic due to the construction, but realized long ago that his retail specialty chocolate shop would be better served as a distribution center.  With the summer months accounting for some 70 percent of his business, the very nature of a college town forced him to think outside the box. “We always lost business when the students left town during the summer months, so to make up for the loss we started shipping our product out.” The shop now works with wholesalers and distributors in 43 states.

Cusenza said the biggest losses locally for him due to the construction has been going between businesses. “I used to go to stores in the area and buy what I needed to make up my gift baskets, but even I don’t want to deal with the construction.”  Cusenza also said he’s not getting the same traffic as before when businesses would come to his shop and buy for employees or new clients.

The businesses now are dealing well with the adversity, but it has been a learning experience. All are wishing they had received more notice of the construction to allow for planning. Cusenza said he found out when the signs started going up. He also questions why the construction project has taken so long. “Not only are we losing short-term business, but possibly long-term as well. People are changing their habits—finding other places to shop. Will they come back?”

Hollowick agreed. “Six weeks is one thing, but five months?  That’s going to take its toll on any business, especially in hard economic times.” For the first time ever this year, she closed up shop for a week to cut her losses. “Everybody is taking a vacation and I’m closing the doors. It costs more to keep the doors open in times like these than I can take in.”  Hollowick said if she’d been given more notice of the length of the construction, she might have closed up shop for a month, or more.

Mahmoud said he’s used to dealing with ups and downs. He said the economy has taken it’s toll since 2000. “Business is down and prices are up. We do the best with what we have.” He also shared concerns about the notice of the project wishing there had been more, but admitted there is little he would have done differently.  “We’re working to be as efficient as we can, so I don’t know what I could have done to prepare,” he said.

Their advice for others facing construction? Hollowick said to give a personal touch and people will come back. “It’s the people they’re buying from, not just the product.” Cusenza agreed and said try to offer something unique. “Find something and do it better than anyone else. Once you build a reputation, business will come.”  Mahmoud’s advice is simple: Always expect obstacles in business. “There are always surprises to deal with. Machines break down or you run out of something, so always have a game plan.”  Most importantly, he said, don’t panic. “Problems—even construction—are part of life, so just deal with it!”

Author: Jo Anne Paul-Stanton
Photography: Terri Shaver