APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – A business that was impacted in a negative way by the latest construction project on Oneida Street in Appleton is now on the road to recovery.
“We got knocked pretty good for the last 19 months, we were down 20 percent or better over the course of that time frame.”
Richard Neimuth was not sure that his business Neimuth’s South Side Market was going to see the end of the project.
“We survived the two best years in the economy in the last 75 years but we didn’t participate.”
While plenty of noise was heard at the construction site, people not being able to get to the building meant business inside was anything but booming.
“Just lost income. There is no government program and no insurance. It is just by luck and determination that we made it through.”
Neimuth says that went on for 19 months.
“You tighten your belt and we ran through our reserves and it was kind of touch and go here till the end on if we were going to make it or not.”
He says since the project completed, business has picked up again and they received one more unplanned perk from the whole deal.
“Working with the one driveway we had, they took ten feet off of our lot and we were able to negotiate a new driveway which makes it easier for our delivery guys too.”
Community members helped show their support by walking to the building and raising awareness on Facebook.
“We got a love from the community and a had a lot of great customers.
He says that was a key to their survival.
