Businesses in downtown DeKalb are getting by despite the tough economic times.

“Luckily we have loyal customers,” said Joyce Waters, co-owner of My Faivret Things, 249 E. Lincoln Highway. “We could still do much better, but we’re doing okay.”
Though businesses are struggling, they have found other ways to make up for the poor economy.

“The economy has been affecting business very negatively in the past year,” said John Wright, owner of Wright’s Jewelry, 124 E. Lincoln Highway. “I do a lot of jewelry and watch repair which keeps me going. Because of the bad economy, a lot of people are selling their gold, so I have been buying more gold than normally, which I can profit from.”

State Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Hinckley) said that businesses across the state are seeing a lull in business, not just in downtown DeKalb.

“We have certainly seen a downturn in retail activity in the state of Illinois, which manifests itself in sales tax paid, which is down considerably from last year,” Pritchard said. “This is a reflection of what happened around the country as well.”

Pritchard also said Illinois is sixth in the nation in terms of retail sales activity.
For Tom and Sharon Smith, owners of DeKalb Confectionary, 149 N. 2nd St., facing an economic recession is something they are familiar with.

“We actually started in this business 27 years ago in 1982, which happened to be a recession year, and we haven’t been dismayed yet,” Tom Smith said.

The Smiths’ business has been doing well this year despite the economy.
“We continue to be holding our own and are slightly better than last year,” he said. “Candy does well in a recession.”

Though some businesses blame the economy for their lack of business, others are directing their blame toward the road construction due to the Re:New DeKalb project.

“The streets are torn up, and I have heard a lot of my customers say that DeKalb is constantly under construction,” said Kathryn Colvin, owner of Simply Posh, 235 E. Lincoln Highway. “We are already dealing with the one-way roads, and when you block certain streaks, it really makes it hard.”

Other business owners feel that the Re:New DeKalb project is a good idea but question whether it is a realistic idea.

“I think it is good to have the improvements downtown, but DeKalb is still a college town and will never be a Geneva or Naperville or even Sycamore for that matter,” Colvin said. “Realistic expectations to improve the city is fine and great, but keep the expectations and spending realistic.”

Re:New DeKalb is the city’s effort to improve the quality of the downtown area.
“Our mission is to expand, strengthen and implement the downtown revitalization effort in downtown DeKalb,” said Jennifer Groce, the executive director of Re:New DeKalb.

Public improvement construction in the downtown area for Re:New DeKalb began July 2008.
“The whole downtown revitalization plan has both private and public sectors. Private sectors will be continuing construction for several years,” Groce said. “The current public improvement plan we are working with is scheduled to be done sometime in 2011.”

However, Groce said there have been discussions to try and speed up the process and finish construction by late 2010.

Despite all the construction, Groce feels that the project will ultimately benefit the businesses in the downtown area.

“It is definitely our goal through public improvement to make our downtown an appealing attraction, making our shoppers and visitors feel that they are in a welcoming, visual and safe environment,” she said. “As our economy begins to heal, we hope to bring in more businesses and private development.”

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