After almost two years, 16 Main Gallery in downtown Madison will close its doors this August.

To give patrons one last taste of the arts, 16 Main is participating in Huntsville Gallery Tour this Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prizes will include a $200 art gift basket giveaway.

To give patrons one last taste of the arts, 16 Main is participating in Huntsville Gallery Tour this Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prizes will include a $200 art gift basket giveaway.

“This is an opportunity for the community to come out and see what we have been doing here at 16 Main and to meet our artists,” said owner Michele Lee.

“You’ll have the chance to buy everything from art to furniture.”

Lee said the final day of business will be Aug. 17. As to why the business is closing, Lee said the business is closing primarily due to the road construction. The city is currently undergoing a revitalization project for downtown Madison. Main Street was closed from Sullivan Street to Wise Street.

“The street work… it blocked us off for three months solid,” she said.

“We couldn’t have customers, students or anything. So, we eventually lost our customer base.”

“Any time you hear a business is closing for any reason, you’re saddened,” said Mayor Paul Finley. “The reality of most small businesses is that those who are successful are a lot of time in the minority. With that said, there’s no question we feel like the improvements that are almost complete down will have a more positive than negative impact.”

According to statistics published by the Small Business Administration (SBA), seven out of 10 new businesses survive at least two years.

“It takes three years to really get a business up and going great,” Lee said. “We had a lot of customers and classes going on, and then it came to a crashing halt.”

The gallery houses nine resident artists and eight consignment artists.

“We depend on our sales and our classes like any other business.

Before the road closures, we were doing great,” she added. “Everybody is looking for spaces right now. Everybody is looking for new art spaces right now.”

The gallery’s going-out-of-business-sale will be from Aug. 4 to Aug. 17, the final day of business.

“We would like to thank the community for all their support over the past two years,” Lee said. “It’s been very nice and we’ve all enjoyed bringing art to Madison.

16 Main stores hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone-256-325-0161.