17th Avenue S.W. restaurants coax back customers with block party during construction

Businesses and restaurants affected by road closures on17th Avenue S.W. are throwing a block party to let Calgarians know they areopen for business.

The city is spending $44 million to replace underground utilities, replace sidewalks and remove utility poles along the busy retail strip.

Becausethe work is being done block by blockand involves total closures of the roadway andsidewalks, business owners on 17thAvenue S.W. between 4th and 5th streets are throwing The Roadblock Partyon Sunday to keep customers coming back during the construction.

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"This basically started as a way for us to support each other and generate some viability while the road was being closed," Justin Leboe, executive chef and co-owner of Model Milk and Pigeonhole, told the Calgary Eyeopener.

Anju, Buttermilk Fine Waffles, Pigeonhole, Calcutta Cricket Club andModel Milk will serveup a taste of what each restaurant has to offer at Roadblock.

The street festival will feature free food, drink deals, live DJs and even a Mario Kart tournament.

Leboesaid the city plans to run similarevents and"back alley parties" to entice customers and encourage foot traffic as the construction moves west down 17thAvenue to 14th Street S.W.

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The construction project will replace and repair aging infrastructure, andthe city has been working with businesses to maintain "marketing and viability" during the road closures,Leboesaid.

"Everybody knows the road needs to be fixed, so we might as well get it out of the way and quickly as possible and do it as collectively as possible."

The Roadblock Party kicks off on Sunday and runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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With files from the Calgary Eyeopener