By Chris Bavender
The old saying goes “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” And that’s exactly the approach Adam Nisley is taking to road construction on Range Line Road that is making access to his business and others in Shoshone Place Shopping Center more difficult.
“I understand the need for some growth and accept that change happens, and we will still be going about the daily business of running a business. You don’t want to think it will affect business, but I know that it can,” said Nisley, owner of Adam’s Flooring. “People see those barrels and all they want to do is get through to get to work or home or lunch. They don’t want to have to try to pull out of the plaza after they’ve pulled in.”
But the Carmel native is staying positive. He knows those orange barrels and the construction workers are only temporary. So, instead of worrying about the impact, he’s trying to make things more pleasant for everyone by firing up a grill on Fridays and serving burgers to the road crew.
“It’s all about working with your community and the guys working on the street,” he said.
The first cookout was Sept. 22 featuring bacon and cheese infused hamburgers with chips, cookies and bottled water. He leaves a cooler of water on the tailgate of his truck so the crew can grab a bottle when they need it. He plans to continue the Friday cookouts every other week.
“They said I didn’t have to do it, and I said ‘Yes, I did because you have control of my entrance and exit. So, if I feed you it’s a win-win situation,’” he said. “And they were all laughing.”
Nisley may be trying to keep the mood light, but he knows the closure of the road – which could last into November – can affect the store’s bottom line. In the four years Adam’s Flooring has been open, he’s seen a steady increase in business. But lately he’s seen a small drop in business.
“That’s tough on a business, but I can’t complain about the location because it’s been great for me,” he said. “I loved growing up in Carmel, and I love to see all the positive changes over the years.”
Even if those changes mean that, temporarily, his store front and others won’t be as accessible once the road is closed about a 1/4 of a mile away at City Center Drive and Range Line Road.
“Customers will think they can’t get down here because it’s all closed off and that will hurt,” Nisley said. “But the fact is they can get down here, and that is what we are trying to push and reiterate. They can still get through and come see us.”
As part of that push, Nisley and the Antique Emporium will host an open house/garage sale Oct. 14 and 28.
“We hope to generate some buzz with that to let people know that even though there are orange barrels they can still get to us,” he said. “They can still shop, and we are still here to help them.”
