Changes are coming to downtown Windsor that will affect several businesses going into the fall of this year.
Construction begins on the Ouellette Ave. streetscape improvement project Monday morning. The $5.6-million undertaking will close Ouellette Ave. between Wyandotte St. and Elliott St. through November.
The Bull and Barrel Urban Saloon has the biggest patio in downtown Windsor, and it's right in the heart of the construction zone.
Owner Christian Komsa says road work is something he has expected since opening the location six years ago. He says he'll take a wait and see attitude when it comes to the impact it could have on his business.
"It's going to be some short term pain, we don't know how bad it will be, but when we took this business over six years ago we realized there was a possibility of construction and hopefully it doesn't hurt too much," he says.
The section of Ouellette Ave. in front of the bar and grill definitely needs some improvement, according to Komsa.
He told AM800 News the long term benefits should out-weight any short-term headaches — the bar plans to make a few improvements along side the streetscaping.
"We've met with the city and we're probably going to add anywhere from five to 10 tables, we're going to hopefully put in a bigger bar, heated year round, an expanded awning, which would allow us to expand our season," Komsa says. "There's nothing else like that downtown. Hopefully it will be closer to next year once we get approval for that."
Downtown Windsor along Ouellette Ave. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)
The project is supposed to help extend the downtown streetscape already in place north of Wyandotte St. and tie into the downtown core.
Komsa says the improvements are welcomed, but he likes the bar's location on the edge of the downtown core.
"We cater to all ages from kids to people who are going out after from 19 to 90, so will it tie us in a little more? Yes, but we kind of like where we're at," he says.
The finished project will reduce the number of lanes from four to two plus a raised median island, new sidewalks, landscaping and additional on-street parking.
Sidewalk access to all businesses will be available throughout construction into late November.