Talbot Street in Essex officially reopened Nov. 13 following its closure last spring for the town's $9 million streetscape project, which has completely transformed the look of downtown Essex.
The closure was expected to last through December, cutting into the holiday shopping season.
Greg Schinkel, Owner, Schinkels' Meat Market says the new look is great.
"Roads are reopened and it's good to see traffic flowing through town again and thing's kind of getting back to normal."
He says he noticed a slowdown in business during the closure and is calling on residents to come back out.
"I think the new street looks good, they should come check it out, and they're definitely more than welcome to come back [to] downtown Essex. We have been missing a few people who have found it difficult to get downtown that's for sure."
Schinkel says he thinks the town tried their best to try and promote and support businesses that were affected.
"I kinda compared the project to a kitchen renovation, if you want to renovate your kitchen in your house, it's going to be dusty and messy and inconvenient and things are going to inaccessible in your kitchen for a while. But in the end, the end result is going to be worth it and I think that's kind of what the downtown Essex has been. It's been dusty and messy and inconvenient and now it looks really nice, and I like the finished product."
Mayor Sherry Bondy says there is a buzz in town.
"The merchants are greatful that the street is opened in advance of the holiday's. Really good timing. The Essex BIA just sold out of their downtown BIA dollars, so hopefully people are using them and our businesses are going to have a good holiday season."
Bondy says $70,000 worth of BIA dollars sold out in three hours. The dollars were available for a cost of $8 to the consumer, in return for $10 worth of BIA dollars, which can be redeemed at numerous shops in Essex.
She says there is still more construction work to be done.
"There's a few outstanding issues. We have to get ESA approval on the street lights. So the streets lights aren't working yet and we have to get the pedestrian crosswalk hooked up. So when you're in the area, keep an eye out and proceed with caution, but please come to downtown Essex and check out our streetscape and our shops."
Bondy says she understands the businesses took a hit during the construction.
The town partnered with the BIA to promote businesses through a direct mail campaign and launched a streetscape façade improvement grant program, which Bondy says saw seven businesses take part in.
She says the town will look at other measures to promote businesses in the future.
"We are seeing a rejuvenation in our downtown right now. We've done four ribbon cuttings already and we have two more planned this week. We have a children's consignment shop that has just opened and a brand new restaurant that has opened in downtown Essex. So the streetscape is doing its job and we're seeing new businesses come to Essex."
The town's annual Santa Clause parade will take place Saturday Dec. 9 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Viewing locations are staged along Talbot St. between Fairview Ave. and Maidstone Ave.