Business News

What construction can’t stop: The spirit of downtown Escanaba

Minding our own business

ESCANABA -- It is no secret that the construction on Ludington Street has been difficult for our downtown businesses this summer. Reduced parking, constantly changing traffic patterns, and torn-up sidewalks have forced downtown businesses to adapt daily since the construction began in the spring. For many customers, the easiest option has been simply to drive somewhere else and avoid the construction altogether.

Yet, despite all of these obstacles, something remarkable has revealed itself. Construction has tested our downtown businesses, but what it hasn't done is quiet the spirit of our business owners or the people who support them.

Rather than waiting for construction to end, our local businesses have gone to tremendous lengths to adapt. Across downtown, businesses have reinvented their customers' experiences, embraced creativity, and discovered new ways to support one another. Every business has taken a different approach, but together they reveal something that has always defined our waterfront community: resilience.

One of the clearest examples of this mindset can be found at the Swedish Pantry. When construction made parking and accessibility more difficult, the restaurant didn’t simply hope customers would navigate the obstacles on their own. Instead, they began offering golf cart rides from nearby parking areas directly to their front door. It’s a simple gesture, but one that perfectly captures the hospitality that has long defined downtown Escanaba. Rather than allowing construction to become a barrier, they found a creative way to remove it.

For Leigh’s Garden Winery, adapting meant reimagining the customer experience altogether. With construction limiting access to the front of the business, they transformed their back patio into a beautiful outdoor gathering space where guests could enjoy drinks, conversation, and live music throughout the summer. Instead of waiting for construction to end before creating memorable experiences, they found another way to welcome people. Their investment illustrates that even during challenging seasons, small businesses continue looking for opportunities rather than excuses.

For Young’s Formal Wear, the timing couldn’t have been much more challenging. Young's new team had only recently begun writing the next chapter of the business before construction arrived downtown. Rather than allowing construction to define the conversation, they’ve embraced it with creativity and humor. Their engaging social media presence has transformed what could have been frustration into an opportunity to connect with the community, proving that adaptability isn’t always about changing a storefront. Sometimes, it’s about changing the way people see the challenge itself.

While downtown business owners have found creative ways to adapt, they certainly aren't navigating the summer’s challenges alone.

One of the most encouraging examples of community support this summer came not from a business directly impacted by construction, but from one determined to help those that were.

Ashley Furniture opened its doors to host a special pop-up shopping event last month featuring several downtown businesses affected by the ongoing Ludington project. Local businesses came together with a shared goal of introducing customers to the unique shops, products, and entrepreneurs that continue to make downtown Escanaba special.

Community leaders, including DDA Executive Director Craig Woerpel, numerous volunteers, and community partners have also worked tirelessly to ensure construction doesn't solely define this summer's downtown experience. Rather than canceling traditions or moving events elsewhere, the DDA has remained committed to keeping people coming downtown. Signature events like farmers' markets and 'Lunch on Ludington' have continued bringing residents together each week. Pop-up markets have been established to offer businesses affected by construction another way to reach customers. Even large-scale events, such as the Ludington Street Cruise and the Logjam Music Festival, remained in the downtown area to ensure downtown businesses were on full display.

Inspired by these collective efforts, the Delta Chamber of Commerce launched the Curb the Construction campaign to further encourage residents and visitors to continue supporting downtown businesses. Every visit, every purchase, and every receipt submitted represents more than a prize drawing entry: it's a hopeful reminder that although our downtown businesses are doing everything they can to adapt, they still need our continued support.

This summer will inevitably be remembered for the significant construction and challenges facing our downtown. More importantly, I hope it is remembered for the business owners, organizations, volunteers, and residents who refused to let construction define their community. The next time you drive through downtown and see an illuminated OPEN sign standing behind orange barrels and broken pavement, remember what it represents. Construction may have reshaped our streets this summer, but it never changed the spirit of downtown Escanaba.