Man on the Street: Main Street construction

The Sarasota Observer asked some of the businesses on Main Street how they're going to be affected by the upcoming waterline replacement, which will shut down the 1300 block of Main Street during the month of June.

Jim Keabeney
Proprietor, Stairway to Belgium, 1359 Main St.

How is the construction on Main Street going to affect business?

“We’re not planning on closing during construction, but we’re very upset about it. We just got our outside seating permit so this is really bad timing for us. I wish they would have done it in August when there’s less people here. We’re just going to suck it up and do the best we can.”
 

Mark Woodruf
Owner, Two Senoritas, 1355 Main St.

How is the construction on Main Street going to affect your business?

“After it’s done it’s going to be fantastic. We’re working with the city right now. They’re having a stakeholders’ meeting every other Monday for anyone who has ownership in a business on Main Street. I’m really excited though. I’m trying to be proactive.”

Are you going to stay open during construction?

“We’re definitely not going to close. That’s not the way we’ve ever done things here. Business has been really good through January, February and March, so I want to keep that momentum going.”

Do you have any concerns?

“I just hope the city will hold up their end of the bargain by getting a valet service going and keeping the sidewalks clean during construction. They’ve been keeping us pretty informed, so far so I can’t complain.”
 

Ricardo Musto
Barber, Alberti’s Distinctive Haircuts, 1379 Main St.

How is the construction on Main Street going to affect business?

“It’s going to be bad. We have a lot of older clients who have someone drive them right to the door, so we’re trying to figure out how to get them accessibility to the shop. If they had built the parking garage first, we would’ve at least had somewhere they could park and we could have possibly brought them around the back, but they’re taking away all the parking at once.”
 

Beth Ealing
Owner, Max’s Dog Bakery, 1375 Main St.

How is the construction on Main Street going to affect business?

“Honestly, I think I’ll be really shocked if anyone comes down here during construction. I think once they finish it will be wonderful, but it’ll be hard getting there.”
 

Gunda Dehn
Assistant Manager, Art Uptown Gallery, 1367 Main St.

How is the construction on Main Street going to affect business?

“This is going to be very difficult. Like everybody else, we have to worry about survival. I know it’s necessary for the street to be shut down, but it would have been better to do it during July or August when there’s nobody here anyway.”

Contact Maria Amodio at [email protected].