Market Plaza in downtown Greenwood is seen from above on May 8. The city is planning improvements to the road later this year.
Provided photo | City of Greenwood
A viral flyer purporting that Greenwood officials are trying to shut down a beloved local restaurant with a sidewalk construction project is misinformation, Mayor Mark Myers says.
The flyer going around Facebook says the city is trying to “take over” The Suds, 350 Market Plaza, encouraging residents to “fight to keep it.” It goes on to ask them to attend Thursday’s open house for Market Plaza project and states the city is trying to put sidewalks through The Suds.
Myers addressed the flyer it during the public comment portion of Monday’s city council meeting.
“There’s a lot of false information. In fact, practically everything on this page is false,” Myers said.
The city plans to improve Market Plaza between Coffeehouse Five and Madison Avenue, including building sidewalks on both sides of Market Plaza and connecting Old City Park to City Center Park. An early rendering on the city’s website also shows adjustments to the placement and number of parking spaces on the south side of the Walker Plaza shopping center as well.
Greenwood is not now and has never tried to close down The Suds, which has been “an icon for years,” Myers said. The restaurant, which first opened as a franchise of Dog ‘N suds around 1957, also happens to be in a floodplain, meaning if something were to happen to it, nothing would be allowed to be rebuilt there, he said.
“Because of the the area it’s in, only something that goes back on that exact piece of ground exactly as it currently is [would be allowed].”
City officials would love to see The Suds booming in popularity, this project could help with that by making the area more walkable. The sidewalks planned to be constructed in front of the restaurant on within the city’s easement — no land from the restaurant is being taken, Myers said.
“We’re not doing it to take The Suds. We don’t want to take The Suds. We want to see that stay there as a staple,” he said.
Right now pedestrians have to walk in the street because there are no sidewalks, which puts them in danger. The goal is to improve safety and beautify the area, Myers said.
“What it does is it promotes safety. It promotes more business,” he said.
Council member Steve Moan asked Myers why people would have the perception the city is trying to take over the iconic restaurant with the addition of sidewalks on Market Plaza. Myers partially blamed postings on Facebook, but acknowledged he had no idea why people would think that.
“There is no real reason other than Facebook and people just make stuff up because they like to,” Myers said.
City officials talked with the owners of The Suds, who are reportedly not “upset at all” with the project because it puts a sidewalk in front of their building, and establishes two clear entrances into the property, Myers said. The Daily Journal was unable to get hold of the owners before the print deadline Tuesday.
The owners of the Greenwood Professional Building, 360 Market Plaza, are also in favor of the project, Myers said.
The city also worked out a deal with the Walkers who own the NAPA Auto Parts Store, 409 Market Plaza. The sidewalks in front of NAPA cut in closer to the building and give them parking spaces directly in front of it, he said.
Unrelated to the misinformation, council member Erin Betron asked if the project would address any of the drainage issues in the area. Myers said the city has done a lot of work there in the past, and this project doesn’t include more drainage work.
However, a project set for next year on a gravel lot would help with drainage in the area, he said.
IF YOU GO
Market Plaza Project Open House
What: An open house for residents and businesses to learn project details and ask questions to city engineers and planners about the project planned for later this year.
When: 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Council Chambers, Greenwood City Center, 300 S. Madison Ave.
