Even with massive construction all around them, shop owners in Ames’ downtown district say business is still thriving.

The $3.5 million renovation project, which began last spring and is slated to be done this November, is turning out to be less of an inconvenience than owners originally thought.

Margaret Junkhan, owner of Cook’s Emporium, 313 Main St., said although she had thought her business would be hurt by the construction, her business is surviving “Digging Downtown.”

Junkhan said many customers are calling instead of stopping in the shop, and her business is doing more delivering to cater to customer’s needs.

Susan Bedell, manager of Big Table Books, 330 Main St., said although she received some complaints initially, she thinks the finished product will look nice.

Junkhan said she believes the city has done an admirable job of putting up signs to help people navigate around the construction.

Though Ray Anderson, liaison between business and property owners and the city, said the project is running a couple weeks behind schedule, the city is asking people to bear with them because the finished project will be worth the inconvenience.

The new downtown area will include light poles similar to those on Fifth Street, public art and landscaping, Anderson said. Trees will be planted at intersections and mid-block crosswalks, and the design will add about 12 new parking spaces.

Anderson said the city has an incentive clause with the construction company that awards early completion, so he believes they will be able to make those weeks up and finish on time.

“I think the main thing is that they get most of it done before school starts,” said Fred Swank, owner of Swank’s Jewelry, 319 Main St.

Swank said his business has seen a drop in the number of browsers that come into the store, but people that want to buy are still stopping in.

Anderson said most downtown businesses realized this was something that needed to be done and were prepared.

“The digging up of the street was bound to happen,” he said. “The sanitary sewer system was 94 years old.”

Clare Bills, Ames Public Relations Officer, said the primary focus for the city is to maintain access to every business during the entire project.

Boardwalks and fencing are being used to ensure customers and employees are able to reach Main Street businesses throughout the renovation, Anderson said.