Wauwatosa businesses hopeful new State Street will bring in more customers after construction

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Updated: 10:32 a.m. July 18, 2018

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wauwatosa Village Business Improvement District is celebrating the end of a major phase of recent construction and streetscaping projects with the grand opening of Root Common and Pocket Park in the center of the Village on Thursday, July 19th from 6 pm to 8 pm.

A short ribbon cutting ceremony will take place to kick off the start of the concert. Wauwatosa Mayor Kathy Ehley and other civic officials, business, and property owners will be present for the ribbon-cutting. Popular local musician Joe Wray will play after the ceremony. The event will also feature wine & cheese from the Village Cheese Shop, food from Cafe Hollander, and beer from Milwaukee Brewing Company. Niemann’s Candies& Ice Cream will be providing goodie bags to the first 100 people. Several Village businesses will also have events and activities going on during the evening.

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Posted: 3:12 a.m. on July 9, 2018

WAUWATOSA (CBS 58) -- State Street in the historic village section of Wauwatosa is a popular place to shop and grab a bite to eat. But it can be challenging to get down there with all the construction. 

Construction started back in April. Along State Street, westbound traffic is open from 68th to 74th but eastbound lanes are closed. 

The city recommends drivers to take the Milwaukee Avenue detour to head east. 

For businesses like Leff's Lucky Town, it's in the heart of the construction. 

"It’s a little difficult to access, we are down a bit from over years but we are hopeful that once it finished it will attract even more people down here," said Mike Szohr, general manager. 

Leff's Lucky Town is getting creative to bring customers in.

“We have numerous promotion events every day, people come into the bar win prizes. They can win weekly prizes. We did a lot of advertising and a lot of Facebook posts," said Szohr. 

Just west of the construction, Jose's Blue Sombrebo had it's grand opening on Monday.

“I am not really concerned about that part of the construction. I am so happy that most of it is ended. I think its going to be just fine," said George Flees,vice president of DeRosa Restaurant Operations. 

The city expects to have two way traffic open by late August and the project will be completed by Thanksgiving. 

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