Construction, downtown accessibility slows holiday shopping for Kalamazoo businesses

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — As the Christmas season is winding down and many people are finishing up their last-minute Christmas shopping, some Kalamazoo businesses have said they did not see those customers at their typical volume for this time of year.

The construction season that lasted from early March to late November had an impact on people driving downtown and stopping in to shop, according to multiple business owners News Channel 3 spoke to.

While some said business was going well, others said it was a struggle as construction stopped people from getting downtown.

“We’re still doing it, we’re still trying to stay open, trying to make it happen, but this year has probably been the worst it’s ever been, to be honest,” Lana Hoffman, owner of Lana’s Boutique, said.

Hoffman said people have not been returning to the store as much since the construction wrapped up, but that it is improving.

She told News Channel 3 the construction and parking accessibility have limited people from coming and shopping.

“People have a hard time getting down here, and the obstacles of getting to where you need to go park and getting to the stores,” she said. “So, it can be frustrating; it was a challenge, and it did affect business quite a bit.”

Jacob Beffrey, manager at The Waiting Room Quality Goods and Services, said his store was more impacted by the construction over the summer, rather than during the holiday season.

Because of this, Beffrey feels it is important to help other stores that are struggling during this time.

“I always ask, ‘Hey, who are you shopping for?’ and if people have any specifics in mind, I can point them wherever I think they might best be suited,” he said.

Beffrey said shopping local can have its benefits over online service, and that it is beneficial to smaller businesses.

According to Beffrey, personal service is unmatched, and shopping online does not provide the same experience as making a day out of a shopping trip to downtown Kalamazoo.

“You can’t get a smiling face when you hit ‘order’ on Amazon,” he said. “So, come downtown, we’ve got a lot going on, and there’s a lot of really friendly people that want to help you out.”