Non-chain-store merchants are confused but hopeful about their future as the ZCMI Center demolition approaches.

Although some originally thought they might have to vacate by Jan. 1 to make way for the City Creek Center, which should be built by 2011, none of the smaller businesses contacted by the Deseret Morning News on Wednesday thought that deadline was in effect. Instead, owners and managers were mulling over changes and thinking about longtime customers. The customers were thinking about them, too.

Clayton Williams, owner of Williams Fine Art gallery, said he was in negotiations with Property Reserve Inc., the real estate investment operation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"We have not reached a decision as to whether we will be here or we'll be moving," he said, "and if we'll be moving, where we'll be moving."

The site at Eagle Gate Plaza has housed Williams' hundreds of original paintings, sketches and other artworks for 14 years. It has been a wonderful location, he said. While it will not be torn down, "some remodeling" will take place across the hallway.

Williams is worried about dust and parking problems caused by the construction, if he were to stay. Meanwhile, the gallery — like more than a few of the other impacted businesses — is hosting a sale.

"Our sale is going on in case we have to move," he said. If that happens, "we will want to reduce our inventory. Some of our items are reduced as much as 50 percent, but all of the items are reduced somewhat."

Still, Williams remains optimistic.

"Well, I just have learned that you have to take it a day at a time, and it seems like things always work out. I've always had good fortune, so I'm not overly concerned about the future."

Where the gallery would go, he is not certain. "We have ideas, but we have not made any decisions or signed any contracts about where we might go," he said.

"Oh, I love this location," said Corinne Liddell, a Salt Lake woman who has bought artworks at the gallery over the past 14 years. "I just swing in here. Between here and O.C. Tanner, it's wonderful. And I love when he has those seminars."

The seminars are cultural sessions about important Utah artists, Williams said.

"That's probably my very favorite of what he does," Liddell said. She noted that she collects only Utah art, a specialty of Williams, and owns some of his own works.

Connie Hansen, manager of the nearby Skool Lunch, said the landlord recently gave the restaurant a lease extension. However, she said, these extensions are only for a month at a time.

"They'll let us know toward the end of January if we have another 30 days or not," she said. Hansen is grateful because it's better than leaving before the start of the new year.