Madison Street Parking Garage demolition could hinder downtown Jefferson City business revenue

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) 

Businesses near the Madison Street Parking Garage in Jefferson City are worried demolition will block entrances and make it harder for customers to access their business. 

The city won’t know what road closures will have to be made until after a demolition bid is awarded at the next City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 3, with bids due by 2 p.m. Friday. 

Luke Holtschneider, the president and CEO of the Jefferson City Regional Economic Partnership, said the city would likely have to close Commercial Avenue -- the alleyway behind the parking garage -- to vehicle traffic. 

Bones Restaurant and Lounge, located at 210 Commercial Ave., has its only entrance in that alley and it's the only business with an entrance in that alley.  

“Even now, our customers are having a hard time getting to us, and they just don't even want to fight downtown to get here," Bones General Manager Cindy McDaniel said.

Sections of the parking garage are structurally sound, but the ramps can't be used, according to previous reporting. It has to come down, and it gives the city a chance to put up a conference and hotel center.

Holtschneider said there are some road bumps for businesses in the short term while demolition and construction is going on, but it will bring more people to downtown in the long run.

"This really focused on 'How do we provide an anchor that would drive more people and groups into downtown that give more opportunities for our downtown businesses?'" Holtschneider said. "All this is to really be a catalyst for those opportunities; the challenge is the garage coming down."

McDaniel said she doesn't know if Bones can continue business if the alleyway is closed, even though she isn't opposed to the city demolishing the parking garage.

"The economy isn't great right now, and people in Jeff City don't have a lot of money, and they're not spending a lot of money right this moment. I'm not sure we can survive in the short term, to them means a couple of years, and I don't know if we can survive that," McDaniel said.

Holtschneider said the city will work with Bones, if Commercial Avenue needs to be closed.

Lauren Moscato, co-owner of River City Florist, located at 212 Madison St., also expects a disruption to business.

"I believe it's going to make it very difficult for anyone to get to my shop," she said about the parking garage demolition. "I know this has to happen, there's no point in whining or griping about it because the garage is falling apart."