News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Brian Peterson, owner of Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe in Alpena, pulls a package of homemade brats out of a cooler while at work on Monday. He said more development on Alpena’s north side is needed to lure more people to that side of the city.

ALPENA — On the outskirts of downtown Alpena, businesses try their best to market themselves and thrive the way businesses in the heart of downtown do.

On Alpena’s north side, small businesses line 2nd Avenue just a brief walk or short drive from the main business district. Business owners there are working hard to market themselves and push for further development on that side of the city to spur growth.

Brian Peterson owns Nowicki’s Sausage Shoppe, the Old Polish Corner, and another building on 2nd Avenue just past Miller Street.

Peterson has been busy making improvements to his businesses and growing his customer base. He is also in the process of creating more housing and lodging on the north side and renovating the upstairs of the meat market into a banquet hall.

He said the business landscape in that part of the city is different from other areas of town and he hopes more people will take the time to come experience what the north side has to offer.

“Because we are a little farther out, someone needs to have a reason to come over here,” he said. “We don’t have the vehicle traffic or the foot traffic other businesses downtown do. We take pride in our product, customer service, and being consistent when we are open and offering a good, quality product is critical.”

Peterson is also trying to work with other businesses to help them find a new home on the north side. Last month, he offered one of his vacant storefronts to the owner and staff of Tradewinds Bakery, from Rogers City, to open a pop-up bakery in Alpena. The move was a success, as the donuts, cookies, and fresh bread flew off the shelves. Now, Tradewinds owner Aaron Romel is considering opening a permanent location in Alpena, possibly on the north side.

“I would like to see several more businesses feathered in around me, because that will create more traffic,” Peterson said. “Filling up the empty buildings is important, because it will make the area a little more attractive and people will have a reason to come to this side of town.”

Both of Peterson’s businesses fall outside the Alpena Downtown Development Authority district, but that could change soon if the Alpena Municipal Council votes to expand the DDA borders. The city is trying to get buy-in from Alpena County, Alpena Community College, and residents in the proposed boundary expansion to include more businesses in the DDA.

The proposed plan would push the DDA down Chisholm Street to the Thunder Bay River, and farther down 2nd Avenue to a line that would include the Old Polish Corner.

Peterson said he is in favor of expanding the boundaries, because it would allow business owners that aren’t currently eligible for DDA services and funding to benefit also.

“It would be a game changer,” Peterson said. “It would make it easier to invest and redevelop the old historic businesses, which is exactly what we need. I think the DDA expansion in this area is paramount.”

If the DDA expands, a portion of taxes collected on all properties in the district would be redirected to the DDA.

So far, ACC supports surrendering a small portion of its tax revenue to the DDA, but Alpena County is hesitant to do so. The county has formed an Economic Development Committee and is exploring ways to help fund the DDA without having it come from countywide millages.

Peterson said he has plans for the future, but is busy with the remodeling projects he has now. He said one idea that could help the north side businesses would be to have some type of festival nearby.

“It would be cool to have something like North Side Days or something,” he said. “It’s just something we are thinking about and something I think we need.”