Erie Street waterline complete

Construction finished on replacement waterline

The Erie Street Waterline Replacement Project is now complete with orange barrels gone and roads reopened in the heart of downtown Willoughby.

Now that construction has finished, and businesses are reopening their doors, many are hopeful for the future. This construction project being completed is a sigh of relief for many local business owners who saw the construction stifle business even before the novel coronavirus pandemic hit..

That includes David Bartulovic, owner of Sol at 38257 Glenn Ave., who believes the construction project was necessary.

“I think the project needed to be done; it was a necessary evil. The pipes were very old, I believe, one was almost 50 years old, and the other one was 110 years old,” Bartulovic said.

“I think a lot of our businesses were suffering and I know they were putting band-aids on it,” he said. “I think the pipes needed to get fixed.”

“I think the project needed to be done; it was a necessary evil. The pipes were very old, I believe, one was almost 50 years old, and the other one was 110 years old.” — David Bartulovic

To avoid the spread of COVID-19, Bartulovic said he has been sure they are following all guidelines.

“We’ve abided by all the guidelines, all of our tables are spaced six feet apart; all of our employees are wearing masks currently. We have also put sanitizers at every entrance and exit,” he said. “We have accommodated our restaurant to what the guidelines are asking for.”

Willoughby Mayor Robert Fiala knew that the construction could cause some significant problems for business owners in the beginning. Then, the novel coronavirus

pandemic hit, further impacting the revenue of area businesses.

“Local businesses, especially those in personal services, retail and entertainment, have been seriously affected by the pandemic,” Fiala said. “They are still working to rebuild revenue that ceased during COVID-19, and many say it will be months before they reach normal operating levels.”

Right now, Fiala is focused on local businesses and merchants following the state guidelines.

“Our local businesses, merchants, restaurants, and bars have been doing a great job of following the health district’s guidelines despite the operating restrictions,” Fiala continued. “We are impressed with the creativity being used to attract

and service their customers.”

City officials have gone as far as to collaborate with the economic development team who assembled task forces for downtown Willoughby and the Lakefront District comprised of local businesses in each area.

“As we better understand the guidelines from the state of Ohio and our health district, we will develop programs and events to drive business to our city,” Fiala said.

As for plans for summer, the mayor is focusing on keeping up with all state guidelines.

“The mass gathering guidelines will affect our large summer events, and we are hoping we can begin these in August,” he said.