Things looking up for Businesses on River Drive - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Things looking up for Businesses on River Drive

By: Christine Souders

csouders@cbs4qc.com

Traffic is flowing more smoothly along River Drive in Davenport now that some of the lanes have reopened, and business owners tell us it's almost back to business as usual. Both Java Java, and The Boat House are finally bouncing back from a summer they say just didn't exist.

Once in the way of constructions signs, and detours, Daron Vanzuiden says his business, Java Java was cutting it close financially for a while, but says now he's seeing more cars at the drive-thru and more customers coming back through the door, "We went from operating at 30 percent and shooting up towards closer to 100 percent of what we were prior to the construction."

Customer Sarah Harris says she's also been waiting for River Drive to open up, so she can grab her favorite cup of joe, "There was no way to get to the businesses and still support them, and so I'm thrilled that they're finally open and we can get here."

Just down the street from Java Java is another place finally seeing relief after a long summer dry spell.

"Some days when we only got 5 or 6 tables that were in here just because they couldn't figure out how to get here and now I would say it's 2 to 3 times that just because it's easier to get here," said Lori Bentley, Co-Owner of The Boat House.

And both owners say they're anxious for the construction to be completely done.

"We're so happy that we're seeing our customers starting to come back a little bit, not so fearful, so it's good," said Vanzuiden.

There's just one section near Bettendorf where drivers must take turns passing through, but for now, at least one lane is open going both ways along River Drive.