A recent string of key business closures isn’t going to dampen its resolve, group leaders say, as it continues to push forward.

Late last year, the Peebles store closed. Two weeks ago, J.C. Penney and Burger King both announced they’re closing after taking big hits from the economic shutdown meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

South Bay President Larry Clark said the news was disheartening, because all of those businesses were key to attracting people south of Alpena proper.

Nonetheless, Clark said, the group is going to continue to focus on the positive gains that have been made in the area and work even harder to rebound from the setbacks.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A banner promoting inventory discounts at J.C. Penney flies outside the Alpena Mall on Thursday. That anchor-store retailer and the nearby Burger King recently announced they are closing, following retailer Peebles’ closure late last year. The loss of those three businesses is a blow to the South Bay group’s effort to revitalize the U.S.-23 South corridor, but the group is working with partners to create new business and recreational opportunities moving forward.

“When we started in 2013, there were a lot of vacancies, but we cleaned the area up and began to see more traffic, so this is somewhat discouraging,” Clark said. “However, this makes us more determined to work with our partners to attract new businesses for those locations and others that are still vacant.”

South Bay works closely with the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce, economic development firm Target Alpena, and with the business owners along U.S.- 23 South. It also works with and has the support of the Alpena Township.

When South Bay formed, its main goal was to clean and spruce up the corridor and there has been a lot of painting, planting, and other improvements made over the years. Local business owners took it upon themselves to improve their stores, and the township cracked down on blight in that area.

The township also repurposed some property on Partridge Point and turned it into a park where people can picnic or launch their canoe or kayak.

Clark said the park has been used a lot and people enjoy it.

Now, the group is in the midst of planning an extension of the Bi-path out of Alpena and a boardwalk near the 45th Parallel and Squaw Bay.

“The project has been delayed, somewhat, because of COVID-19,” Clark said, referencing the disease caused by the coronavirus. “And there is a new director at the Michigan Department of Transportation in Alpena, so we need to meet with him and share what our plans and goals are with him. We have put together a mailing list, and it will be sent out notifying people of a public hearing on the project in the fall.”

Clark said the Bi-path extension will likely be made of wood and resemble a boardwalk, and will run in areas where it is dry.

“When you get to the 45th Parallel, it will have to be elevated or floating, because of the high water levels,” Clark said. “It is exciting, and we still hope to have a park near the 45th Parallel dedicated to Peter Pettalia.”

Pettalia represented the area in the Legislature and died in a motorcycle crash in 2016.

Now that the state is being opened up amid a slowdown in the virus’ spread, Clark said plans and projects will begin to amp up once more. He said plans are being made for the group’s annual cleanup day, which will be later than normal.

“We are looking at having it in August,” Clark said. “It really needs a cleanup and we don’t want to go two years between them.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.