Hoosier Heartland affecting businesses

AMERICUS, Ind. (WLFI) - Fewer cars are traveling through Americus on the old State Road 25 now that a portion of the new Hoosier Heartland Highway from Lafayette to Delphi opened earlier this week.

Some business owners in Americus said while they've already seen a decrease in business, others said they hope it will help their business in the end.

For 17 years, Dave Morrison and his wife Donna have owned the Citgo gas station and convenience store in Americus.

"Dollar-wise, I do a lot more dollars in gas," Morrison said. "As far as customer rings, I do more customer rings with people without gas."

But Friday as of noon Morrison noticed a major decline in business.

"I was doing a customer count just a little bit ago and we're down 124 customers from where we were this time just last week on a Thursday," Morrison said.

Morrison said he's seen fewer cars traveling the old State Road 25 where his business is located, since the Lafayette to Delphi portion of the new Hoosier Heartland Highway opened to traffic Wednesday.

Now, with fewer cars traveling the path through Americus, Morrison said he expects fewer new customers to stop at his gas station.

"You're either convenient or you're nothing," Morrison added. "We strictly rely on traffic and movement in order to make our living."

Meanwhile down the road at Robert's Americus Restaurant and Bar, manager Jackie Harris said their business is mainly regulars who come in for a bite to eat.

"We do have some drive-by business but most of the people who come here, come here because of our reputation," Robert's Americus Restaurant and Bar manager Jackie Harris said.

"The old clientele will probably know their way here but some of the new ones we'll miss," owner of Robert's Americus Restaurant and Bar Dick Roberts said.

In fact, while they might lose out on some new customers traveling through town, Harris said they might also benefit from the new traffic pattern.

"I've heard a lot of people who don't like to drive on 25, and because of the trucks they don't come out here and eat because they don't like driving 25 because it's such a dangerous highway," Harris explained. "And now that the truck traffic is going to be on the new highway, I'm hoping it might even help business some."

But for now, both business owners said they're just hoping to see business increase, as traffic on the old State Road 25 decreases.