MORGANTOWN — Josh Eid-Ries, the business and sustainability manager of Mountain People’s Co-op on Pleasant Street, admitted he was surprised when the parking garage across the street was closed May 13 for repairs.
He was under the impression the garage was going to remain open until June 1. But with West Virginia University’s commencement done, city officials moved the closure date up by almost three weeks. The rationale, they said, was the sooner they start the 104-day, $200,000 project, the quicker they can finish.
That decision, however, left the handful of area businesses along Pleasant Street wondering what they can do to weather the summer months, traditionally a slow time, without the time to prepare.
“My immediate reaction was concern for the businesses,” said Eid-Ries, who also appeared before Morgantown City Council to voice his concerns.
“It seemed like with the students gone, anything goes.”
The 63-space Pleasant Street garage was constructed in the 1960s and does have structural issues, said Dana McKenzie, executive director of the Morgantown Parking Authority.
“Structurally, we did not have a choice,” said McKenzie, when asked about the repairs, which are expected to be completed sometime in the first part of August. Scheduled repairs include a new top coating on the second floor, as well as work on support beams.
To compensate for the garage’s closure, the parking authority offered free parking to the affected businesses in neighboring garages, a total of 51 spaces in a two-block radius, McKenzie said.
Eid-Ries, however, said they have already felt the impact of the closure. In the week following the May 13 closure, customers of Mountain People’s tended to spend $5 less than they normally would. If that trend continues, the co-op could face a $40,000-plus reduction in revenue.
“We’re probably going to have to order less,” from suppliers, he said.
“We weren’t expecting this kind of hit,” he said.
While he appreciates the free parking made available, Eid-Ries said he is concerned about the customers having to lug groceries farther than they normally would. Co-op employees will carry the co-op’s customers’ groceries free of charge, but he said some patrons have been reluctant to take advantage of that offer.
At the Pleasant Street location of Black Bear Burritos, there were a handful of customers on a late Wednesday afternoon. A menu board in front of the restaurant advertised a “Porking Garage” special, but other than that there was no sign the business was disturbed by the closure.
Heath Brown, the venue’s general manager, agreed the closure has not really affected business. But, he added, the garage was one of the reasons they opened at that location in 2003. Employees of Black Bear Burritos have been given free parking at the nearby garages.
“I am optimistic,” Brown said.
L.J. Giuliani, owner of the music venue 123 Pleasant Street, is not so optimistic. Instead, he is taking a “wait-and-see” attitude about the closure.
“The mechanics of my business being a music venue are a little different than the day-to-day operations like the co-op and Black Bear,” he said. “That being said, the closure of the parking garage will certainly have an adverse effect and will influence a person’s decision to come to a show.”
Giuliani said the parking authority offered free parking for employees.
“That gesture is expected and appreciated, but we do not feel that goes far enough,” he said. “It’s our patrons and clients that support our businesses and it’s them that are being challenged to come to Pleasant Street.
“We are requesting and expect the parking authority to provide us free parking vouchers for our customers to offset the inconvenience.”
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