May 19, 2013
Tallahassee, FL - September 18, 2012
Driving Around Town, You May Be Inspired To "Get It On Gaines Street".
A rolling billboard of sorts is on the street trying to get you to shop local. The bus has been around for more than a month as an extension of the Gaines street project.
Business owners hope this ad on a StarMetro bus will push traffic their way along Gaines Street: "We've endured."
Joshua Williams opened Olde Fields Clothing on Gaines in 2011. It was just months before construction began and changed the landscape in front of his brand new store.
It also made it difficult for potential shoppers to pop in hassle free.
Joshua Williams, Local Business Owner: "We were still open the whole time but a lot of Facebook posting --- don't worry, there's a lot of dirt in front of the store but we are open."
But once phase one was complete, they had their storefront back, and a heftier bottom line.
Joshua Williams, Local Business Owner: "Once it was all in, of course we were happy you know."
The six million dollar project has turned a corner and is onto phase two. But just around this bend are other businesses still caught in construction. Owners wouldn't go on camera but say the work has made profits plummet and they don't know how much longer they can hang on.
Michelle Bono: "We want the businesses to know our hearts are with you and the best thing the community can do is shop there and say you support those businesses."
Now that cars can drive more freely, foot traffic is what they really want, and this reminder may be stopped at a light near you.
The city says phase two should wrap up at the end of this year, a third phase has been approved, but they can't say when it will begin or how long it will be.
