Road work, detours create tough times for businesses at The Plex

“We’re open for business.” That’s the message Nora Loss, owner of Red’s Threads Athleisure Boutique clothing store at 5043 Competition Drive, near Bettendorf’s TBK Bank Sports Complex, is trying to get through to her customers. Many of those customers aren’t getting the message because the Forest Grove Drive Reconstruction Project has closed roads, created detours […]

“We’re open for business.” That’s the message Nora Loss, owner of Red’s Threads Athleisure Boutique clothing store at 5043 Competition Drive, near Bettendorf’s TBK Bank Sports Complex, is trying to get through to her customers. Many of those customers aren’t getting the message because the Forest Grove Drive Reconstruction Project has closed roads, created detours and caused some frustrations in getting to Red’s Threads and neighboring businesses.

“It’s slowed down a lot. Every customer has complained about the traffic. … (Business) is definitely not as good as it could be,” Ms. Loss told the QCBJ on Tuesday morning, May 2. Most of those complaints have been caused by Phase 2 of the Forest Grove project. In February, Middle Road just south of the TBK Bank Sports Complex area was closed to traffic and detoured traffic east on Hopewell Avenue in order to get to the businesses in the TBK area. That detour is expected to last much of this year. (Visit www.forestgrovedrive.com for the latest information on the road project.) Bettendorf City Engineer Brent Morlok told the QCBJ that the current detours are expected to last until late summer. Also, new signage advertising businesses in The Plex is expected to be installed this week. Ms. Loss and other business owners in the booming commercial area recently told the OCBJ that the road work and the detour have hurt business. The Red’s Threads owner said it’s tough to estimate just how much business is off, but she believes that her revenues were down 30% to 40% during a recent week compared to last year. And last Sunday, April 30, she added that only three customers visited her shop.

“This has been my worst year since I opened, and that’s pretty telling because I’ve been here through the pandemic,” said Ms. Loss, who added that she lost two part-time employees because she couldn’t give them enough hours at the clothing business. In addition to Ms. Loss, Red’s Threads has a full-time employee and two part-time workers. The store owner isn’t the only area business facing tougher business times because of the road work. Jennifer Cupp, an owner of Buttercupp Candles, located at 6836 Championship Drive, Bettendorf, said her business also has suffered. “It’s hindered foot traffic for us because it appears as though our road is closed. So, unless you know we are here, you won’t easily find us,” she told the QCBJ. Ms. Cupp added the business has been doing more social media advertising and they “prop the door open on nice days” to let people know Buttercupp is open for business. Some of the other businesses located in that area include: Foundry Food and Tap, Hurts Donut Co., Twin Span Brewing, Temple’s Sporting Goods, Coffee Hound, Cheesy Cow Mac & Cheesery, UnityPoint Clinic Express and many others. (A business sign lists at least 20 businesses in The Plex.) A huge part of the battle is getting the word out to customers that the businesses near the TBK Bank Sports Complex – an area called The Plex – are open. And that detour into the area isn’t that complicated or time consuming, said Ms. Loss.

“People who are aware of the route know it’s not that bad. It’s just a couple of extra minutes,” she added. Ms. Loss and other neighboring businesses are taking a series of steps to get that word out to the public that they are open. Some of their actions include:

• Posting more signs to let people know the businesses are still open, and welcome your business.
• Advertised in a kiosk inside the TBK Bank Sports Complex to let people know that the many businesses in the area are open, and a map to the businesses.
• Create a website and more social media advertising to let people know the businesses are open. For instance, the website for Red’s Threads has a map of the road detour and is labeled “The best way to get to Red’s.”

Others in the community also have been trying to inform visitors and shoppers about the detour. For instance, this spring the City of Bettendorf created a video called “Drive the detour with Mayor Bob” where Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher drives the detour to encourage people to take a couple of extra minutes to  visit the businesses. “We want to encourage you to come out,” he states in the video. Other city officials also are at work promoting the business in The Plex. “Bettendorf has seen tremendous growth in The Plex area, next to the TBK Bank Sports Complex.  We as the city are so appreciative of the continued investment being made by all of the business owners,” said Jeff Reiter, Bettendorf assistant city administrator, told the QCBJ in an email. “These owners are our friends, our neighbors and the lifeblood of our community.  We hope everyone will consider getting out and supporting them during this road construction project.”  Mr. Reiter added: “The Forest Grove and Middle project will transform our city for generations to come. Yet this construction has created some challenges for the businesses who have invested so greatly.  While this construction continues, we hope you will shop local, shop small, and shop at those Plex businesses.” Ms. Loss is appreciative of the messages of support and efforts to drive people to the businesses. She still is hoping for the best, even though there are still some tough, slow days at Red’s Threads. “Am I optimistic? Yes and no. It’s so fickle. Business is up and down all the time. … But I don’t have a choice. I have to be optimistic,” she added.