Column - Walking the Walk Downtown

On Thursday, I decided to do a little walking the walk.

That's the same day my column urged you to toss a few bucks at small businesses in the center of the city. So I did a little spending and some listening. Here's what I found.

» 10:05 a.m. – Palace Barbershop and Spa, first floor of the Alliant Tower.

I don't usually frequent places with “spa” in their name. But what the heck, in the interest of economic development.

I walk in and find Karen Gardner and Cassie Sheda, the co-owners. Cassie worked at John Henry Spa on Ellis Boulevard along the river.Karen had a shop near the corner of First Street and First Avenue SE. Both flooded in 2008.

Tom Aller, a senior vice president at Alliant, got his hair cut at Karen's shop and offered space in his building. They moved in and have no com plaints. “Business is pretty good,” says Karen, who has been working downtown for 30 years. “But I understand people who are reluctant to come back. It was horrible.” She tames my hair, which hadn't seen scissors since Christmas.

She's a master. I actually look good. Feeling lighter up top, I head out.

» 11:10 a.m. – City Beat, corner of Third Street and Third Av enue SW.

I walk across the river and just three blocks more to City Beat for lunch. I wrote a column about the flooded joint when it reopened just over a year ago.

The special is steak, fries and soup or salad for less than $7. The lunch crowd is slowly streaming in. Co-owner Julie Ganoe is running all over the place but finally had a chance to chat. So how's business?

“We're plugging away,” Julie says. “I'm hoping to not be one of those 150 businesses failing in the first year ... I'm going to fight like hell.” I believe it.

I finish my steak and pay the check. Before I go, Julie wants me to know there's live music every Friday night, usually starting at 8 p.m. Duly noted. Baby sitter activation requested.

Lunch is done, but what's for dinner?

» 11:55 a.m. - City Meat Market and Deli, 615 Second Street SW

I walk a block down and four blocks over to get to City Meat Market and Deli, past some boarded-up flood homes and some houses that have been restored. I've been meaning for a long time to stop by the market.

Roger and Joann Vogel are behind the counter.

So how's business?

“You want the truth?” Roger says. Joann laughs. “We're paying our bills, that's it. There's nothing left after paying the bills,” Roger says.

Deli biz from downtown workers has slacked off. And people's taste in meat has gone discount. He sells the good stuff, and it's just not selling as well.

“They're ignoring quality for quantity,” Roger says. Joann is a nurse.

Roger says if things don't improve, he'll look for another line of work. “I think this city is in trouble. All these small businesses, it's a great part of the taxes paid,” he says.

I choose quality over quantity, picking a nice slab of aged sirloin. As I pay, Roger hands me a small sample of his homemade jerky. It's really fantastic.

Back to the sidewalk.

How about something sweet?

» 12:20 – Simply Divine, corner of Third Avenue and Second Street SE

Melanie “Pete” Primasing reopened her flooded candy store June 1. A million times I've walked by.

Today's the day.

Wow. If you're in a bad mood, come here. It's candy to the ceiling and stuff I haven't seen since I had cavities in my baby teeth. Diets die inside these walls, but I can see Midwest Athletic Club from here.

Pete says walk-in business is down, but orders are way up. Television advertising drew customers from all over. Corporate clients came back. Lots of folks wanted to help out a flooded business. “They know if the little businesses fail, all there will be is some big Walmart and some big Hy-Vee,” she says.

Pete got 1,100 e-mails from customers wondering when she'd return.

Kids missed her the most.

They'd say “Oh candy lady, you're back.” Yes, she's back all right. I buy a box of her famous chocolate-covered potato chips.

I'll be making more stops and posting stories on my 24-Hour Dorman blog at gazetteonline.com.

» Comments at (319) 398-8452 or todd.dorman@gazcomm.com.