THE PLACE FOR PROGRESS

Clear Lake experiences economic boom in recent years

by Ashley Weiss

2021 was a historic year in Clear Lake.

Not only did the city celebrate the opening of its first hotel and conference center in more than two decades, but it also constructed a state-of-the-art wellness center in partnership with the school district, welcomed seven new retail businesses and restaurants downtown and laid the foundation for future developments, all while grappling with the lingering challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is truly an exciting time for Clear Lake. The explosive growth in both new and existing businesses is cause for celebration with many more economic development projects in the works,” said Stacy Doughan, Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO.

The beautiful backdrop of the 3,684-acre lake and the return of signature events, like Thursdays on Main and the July 4th Celebration, drew record numbers to Clear Lake to enjoy an array of food, retail and entertainment offerings.

At the onset of Clear Lake’s tourism season, Skip’s Kicks, a locally owned shoe store, opened on Main Avenue, followed by True North Nutrition, Chris’ Kettle Corn, Cancun by the Lake, White Barn Picket Fence, Nash & Ivy and Charlie’s Soda Fountain.

Clear Lake’s downtown is convenient for visitors as restaurants and retailers are within walking distance of the lake, which the city and community organizations have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to preserve over the years.

Chris Andersen, owner of Chris’ Kettle Corn, a gourmet popcorn and candy shop, relocated his business to Clear Lake last summer because of the guaranteed foot traffic in a tourist community. Traffic has been good and so good on some occasions that he’s sold out of freshly popped kettle corn.

“It’s been a good fit,” Andersen said about his three-year-old business that got its start at the Clear Lake Farmers Market in the Surf Ballroom & Museum parking lot. “It’s total pros and no cons. This is our home.”

Chris’ Kettle Corn is among more than 10 new businesses that have made downtown Clear Lake home since the onset of the pandemic.

In 2020, despite the absence of large-scale events, at least four businesses opened, expanded or relocated on, or near, Main Avenue, including Gyro Place, The Basic Birder, Simply Nourished and Brin & Lew. (Read more about our retail businesses and restaurants on pages 8-10 and pages 14-15).

The businesses have added more value to an already vibrant downtown and have bolstered the city’s efforts to attract more people to live, work and visit Clear Lake.

In fact, this year marks the first time in decades that the city’s Main Avenue has no vacant storefronts — a milestone contrary to many communities of similar size.

“This positive economic momentum is the result of many Clear Lakers who strongly believe in this community and are very supportive of our businesses, organizations, events and local school,” said Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb. “Clear Lake is a place individuals and families want to be.”

In recent years, the city, led by veteran city administrator Scott Flory, has invested in infrastructure, public safety, technology and much-needed amenities to position itself for prosperity and future growth.

Such investments have resulted in projects like the Courtway Park Development east of Interstate 35 and north of Highway 122, the Emerald Edge Subdivision

along Highway 18 between North 14th and North 20th streets, the Clear Lake Athletics and Wellness Center and several others, like RAKA and Greenlee Corrugated Solutions Inc.

Courtway Park is where an 85-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and 8,000-square-foot conference center, an Old Dominion Freight Line service center and a 6,000-square-foot commercial and retail space have been constructed this past year.

Groundwork for an approximately 51,000-square-foot Hy-Vee grocery store began at the Emerald Edge Subdivision in late 2021 with an opening date near the end of 2022.

“We’re building quite a track record of economic development projects here in Clear Lake, and I don’t think those just happen overnight,” said Bennett Smith, Clear Lake Second Ward Councilman. “We’ve hit a lot of singles and doubles in terms of economic development and then when we get a project like this it really becomes a homerun.

“I think it’s going to catalyze further economic development along that area.”

The Hy-Vee development is a once-in-a-generation project, Flory said.

“You don’t see these kinds of things happen very often in a community,” he said.

That can also be said about the partnership between the City of Clear Lake and the Clear Lake Community School District to build an 81,000-square-foot wellness center on district property south of the high school, north of First Avenue North and west of North 20th Street.

The wellness center, which will be open to residents and visitors alike, will feature men’s and women’s locker rooms, saunas, an indoor playground and a 47,114-square-foot field house. The field house will have a 200-meter indoor track, an indoor turf field marked for football and soccer, two hardwood courts and three multipurpose courts.

The second level includes an elevated walking track and fitness center with cardio and weightlifting equipment.

Construction on the project began in 2020 and is slated to be completed in early 2022 after several material delays.

Other recreational amenities like a new splash pad, restroom facility and sunshade near City Beach were completed in July 2020 and have since been frequented by children and families of all ages to cool down on the warm summer days in Clear Lake.

“Things are good and they are getting better,” Flory said. “We are expanding housing opportunities, economic development initiatives and city services and amenities with the goal of being the best place in the Midwest.”

2022 is looking to be just as fruitful as the previous two in Clear Lake as work begins on a new park project, including an all-inclusive playground and splash pad, on South 15th Street near the Clear Lake Aquatic Center that will accommodate needs within the community and be a destination regionally.

Also scheduled for completion in the coming year is 173° Craft Distillery at 306 First Ave. N. within walking distance of Clear Lake and Main Avenue. It’ll feature specialty cocktails, appetizers and a rooftop deck, which is bound to be a popular destination for those looking to enjoy the sunsets over the lake.

There is also exciting growth anticipated at Pritchard Companies with its recent purchase of two properties in Clear Lake, one of which will bring a Streetrod golf car showroom to downtown.

For more updates on the economic development projects taking place in our community, visit our blog at www.clearlakeiowa.com or follow our Clear Lake, Iowa Facebook page.