SerpApi.Org
A St. Louis park brewery is buzzing with noise.
“I just loved the atmosphere of a taproom,” said Dan Ullsberger, owner of Ullsperger Brewing. “I call it a nano brewery right. It’s not an official term based on barrels per year production-wise, but neighborhood nano brewery had a good ring to it.”
Feet away from his front door, Cedar Lake Road is also buzzing with construction.
“Once I felt the impact that it was having on us, I knew how others must feel,” Ullsperger said.
The City of St. Louis Park said the construction on Cedar Lake Road and Louisiana Avenue is more complex than typical road reconstruction. The city said there are extensive underground infrastructure replacements of watermain and sanitary sewer pipes. The city said it understands this project is challenging for businesses in the area and is doing what it can to support them.
In a statement, the city said it's conducted a signage audit to ensure access to businesses is as clear as possible, reinforced expectations with the contractor to ensure drive lanes are as clear and spotters are present when a contractor must block the drive lane, and developed additional small business support that the city normally doesn’t provide, including publicizing individual businesses.
“There is an overwhelming amount of positivity and support from the city that doesn’t mean that this project isn’t being difficult on us right now as residents and business owners,” Ullsperger said.
He said the construction has made it difficult for people to get to his business and all of the others at the Westwood Shopping Center.
Ullsperger said he loves all of the businesses in the center. He said they’ve created this community-oriented neighborhood community.
He said he thinks it’s important to support all of the businesses, so he’s doing what he can to support others by buying gift cards from DK Diamond Nails, buying products from Shanghai Market to raffle off, and offering discounts to people who come into his business with food from Ariana or Sichuan.
“There’s a lot of questions on the timeline of the project, what’s being done, when will it end, the impact that it’s having. You know, customers are interested in that, and they care about these businesses. They do find it hard to continue to support, whether it’s walking or driving here; it’s admittedly difficult,” he said.
Ullsperger said he is planning an event in August to help all of the impacted businesses.
“So, August 8th we had planned our three-year anniversary. It didn’t feel right; it felt a little selfish at this point, and so we kind of changed that marketing to Westwood Shopping Center 72nd Anniversary party and we’re going to celebrate everyone,” Ullsperger said.
He said he’ll be brewing two specialty lagers: a Greek and Vietnamese one, to complement Ariana and Sichuan.
Ullsperger is encouraging all of the businesses to host something on their sidewalk, and hopes people come out to support all of them.
“It’s very exciting, and I know there’s light at the end of the tunnel; that doesn’t mean today is easy,” he said. “We’re all in it together.”
