Saturday, July 12, 2008
While road crews are busy repaving roads, repainting lines and rerouting traffic along a eight-block stretch of Iowa Street, some Lawrence businesses are paying a price in the name of progress.
Stores and restaurants on Iowa Street between 23rd and 31st streets have seen their sales slow because of road work blocking entry to some parking lots. Lawrence communications manager Lisa Patterson said the project should wrap up on schedule in early August.
One customer browsed through bins of music Thursday afternoon at CD Tradepost, 2540 Iowa Street. Store manager Clark Morton said the few customers on Thursday came from the apartments behind the store or via public transportation.
“We’ve had some bad days,” said CD Tradepost store manager Clark Morton. “It was pretty bad yesterday, and today’s been slow.”
Small orange cones blocked the entrance to CD Tradepost’s parking lot for the first time Thursday. The store is part of the Tower Plaza shopping center, also home to stores such as Quizno’s Subs, Papa Murphy’s Pizza and First Watch Restaurant.
Diners filled most of First Watch’s chairs and booths Thursday afternoon, pleasantly surprising First Watch owner Todd Babington. Babington said he was pleased with the turnout and that he thought his customers had “proven themselves.”
“We’ve had some comments,” Babington said. “People are coming in and saying, ‘Are you trying to run us through a maze or something?’”
White barricades stood in the entrance to the parking lot at Applebee’s, 2520 Iowa Street, but a few customers found their way to the restaurant at lunchtime Thursday. To access Applebee’s and the Tower Plaza shopping center, drivers coming from the north had to drive about three blocks south, turn left and follow a frontage road back to the stores.
Patterson said major work on Iowa Street would continue through the weekend. Next week, Iowa Street will open to two-way, single-lane traffic.
Patterson said the intersection rebuilding project at 19th and Louisiana will also end in early August.
— Edited by Rustin Dodd
Lawrence begins road maintenance project
The repaving of Lawrence’s roads will likely cause inconveniences to drivers.
Hogs ride into Lawrence
The new shop opened in December, but the owner said it's difficult ...
T-Mobile moves to off campus location
The T-Mobile store has given the Kansas Union notice that it will ...
Sections of Naismith Drive closed
The street will be under construction for five weeks.
New south Lawrence retailer wants to attract ...
The Bay Leaf is closing its doors
The downtown Lawrence kitchen store is shutting down after 35 years of ...
Papa Keno's closes its doors
Pizza lovers in Lawrence now have one fewer choice in their search ...
Downtown Lawrence undergoes changes
Closings, new locations transform look and feel of Downtown Lawrence.
Burrito buffs beware
Last month, Kansas City-area Chipotle restaurants raised the price of menu items ...
Lawrence native capitalizes on left-behind furniture
Jessica Lusk, a senior at Washburn, opened a business last September that ...
H&M opens on the Plaza
Some students had to wait in long lines that stretched down the ...
An insider’s guide to Kansas City
The Kansan gives a few tips and hot spots to remember while ...
City officials: Students can vote on local ...
Registering to vote in Lawrence gives students access to local elections and ...
Digging Wall Drug
Wall, South Dakota will be my home for the next three days, ...
Patterson takes medical redshirt
A groin injury will keep Kansas reciever Daymond Patterson off the field ...
Pop culture game show comes to Granada
Cast members of the second season of VH1’s “World Series of Pop ...
Barber shop offers more than just haircuts
African-American barber shop creates a community experience for customers.
Lawrence offers variety of late-night food options
At least 22 local restaurants serve food after midnight
Nichols: Waiters need to be on the ...
Drunk babies are cute, but restaurants must draw the line somewhere when ...
Less football means less dollars for Lawrence ...
Thursday is the deadline for NFL owners and players to reach a ...
Local businesses feel effects of Wakarusa
The Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival brings onslaught of customers to Lawrence ...
Closing organic market offered to The Merc
Owner’s of the closing organic market look to sell their downtown location.
Massachusetts Street included in top-10 list
The American Planning Association cited history and a sense of community when ...
Mass street businesses prepare for annual sale
Jefferson’s still closed, Vermont Street BBQ looking ...
Jefferson’s restaurant remains closed and could have its assets sold at auction ...
Deeper wounds
Pier 1 Imports to stay in business
Pier 1 Imports is not going out of business despite the closing ...
Summer fun in Lawrence
You don't have to go on vaction to enjoy summer, try these ...
Local businesses prepare for Final Four
Jayhawk apparel sales are skyrocketing and bars are preparing for a crowd ...
Downtown offers history, food and fun
Students can eat, shop and party all within a five-block area.
Businesses, shoppers prepare for Sidewalk Sale
More than 80 downtown businesses are participating, some opening as early as ...
Motorcyclists remember life of fellow rider
Friends of Josh Skipton, who was killed in a a motorcycle accident, ...
Daytrippin'
How to have fun, spend little and stay close to home during ...
Downtown waterline replacement disrupts traffic
For the third consecutive year, waterline construction in downtown Lawrence has hindered ...
Tour of Lawrence a boom for downtown ...
Business owners say the annual bike race helps a normally slow holiday ...
Editorial: Students should support downtown businesses
Local companies need patronage to stay afloat.
Restaurants spring up over summer
New restaurants for incoming freshmen, absent summer students poped up over summer ...
Music lovers still appreciate vinyls
Some music lovers are still buying and listening to the old vinyl ...
Two new businesses open this summer
Mass. Street Deli closed Sunday
A growing number of competitors forces Mass. Street Deli to close its ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID