Roadwork hurts Cape Girardeau farmers market but not other nearby businesses

The farmers market held every Thursday afternoon on Independence Street in Cape Girardeau has seen one of the smallest customer turnouts in years because of the construction going on, while nearby businesses say the work has had little effect.

Market president Marilyn Peters said she hopes business will pick up once the road construction in front of the lot at 2001 Independence St. is completed next week.

"We have had some of our smallest markets in years, but we will survive this," she said.

The phase of construction from Kingshighway east to Cordelia Avenue that will widen a stretch of Independence Street began April 2 and was scheduled to be finished in six weeks. City engineer Kelly Green said weather and unexpected sewer issues have pushed back the completion of the current phase. Green said both sides from Kingshighway to Cordelia Avenue should be open by Monday.

Peters said at first she and the vendors thought the drop in sales was due to the economy.

"It may come from older people who won't drive down the section of the street being worked on because it is bumpy and there's a lot of heavy machinery," she said.

"... We had our biggest wake-up call last Thursday, before Memorial Day weekend. It's usually a really big market, and it was much slower than usual."

Unsold produce

Some strawberries were left unsold, which had never happened before. Strawberries usually sell out in two hours, Peters said.

The farmers market, which runs from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, opened April 30 and continues through October.

Established businesses along the section of the street partially blocked by construction said they haven't seen many negative effects from a less direct route to their entrances and parking. Some said they have seen an increase in customers from detours.

Lisa Macbeth, a technician at John's Pharmacy in the 2001 Independence St. building complex, said the rate of delivery requests for prescriptions hadn't gone up because of the roadwork.

"Some people have had a hard time getting here, but they still get here," she said.

One day last week was tough, she said, because the pharmacy's phone line was cut.

Two doors down at Cape Cuts, salon owner Millie Yates said her business hadn't suffered at all.

"Business is up. We aren't participating in the recession," she said.

Diane Neal, co-owner of Creative Ewe Pottery at 1912 Independence St., said she is anxious to see how the end of the work pans out for her business. She said her studio doesn't have an alternate entrance for drivers coming from the east.

"Once school is out for summer it's our busiest time, so I hope they get it done," Neal said.

The children's and maternity consignment store Meggie & Mike's at 48 S. Plaza Way has benefited from the detours through Town Plaza. Store co-owner Gracie Kight said several new customers came in as they went through the detour and saw the store for the first time. "We had four new ones yesterday," Kight said Wednesday.

The next phase of construction will be from Cordelia Avenue east to Clark Avenue, which Green said should be completed in three weeks, weather permitting.

Pertinent address:

2001 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO