$400K renovation of Grand Rapids' Peck Building could bring retail incubators to downtown

Rockford Construction has announced its intention to invest some $400,000 in the renovation of the downtown Grand Rapids' Peck Building that could bring a dozen new retail businesses to city center.

Gina's Boutique and Lia Rose occupy a portion of the street level of the building, which fronts along both Monroe Center and N. Division Avenue. That leaves some 8,500 square feet for the development of Shoppes at Monroe and Division, or MoDiv -- small retail spaces for retail startups or established businesses that want to try out a downtown location.

"We're hoping for a mix of established retailers and startups," says Kurt Hassberger, Rockford COO. "We would like to see that mix where the startups can learn from the established people, and we're hoping to get some anchor (stores), if you will, to draw people down there."

The shops could be as small as 100 square feet, Hassberger says, and will vary in size depending on the business's need. Movable walls and connections between stores are options to create a more open environment and promote business between shops.

"We're hoping to have space where tenants could have fashion shows, wine tastings and create a very collaborative environment," Hassberger says. "We're trying to make this easy for people, to make the space ready so they won't need a lot of buildout dollars, and no long-term lease is required."

The renovation plans include tearing off the brick wall along N. Division to make way for storefront windows. The project landed a $75,000 facade improvement grant from the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority. Hassberger says that although the Downtown Development Authority awarded the grant, the project at this time is not one of the locations under consideration for the downtown retail incubator program recently announced by the DDA.

Another impetus for development now is the city's one-year pilot program to reduce traffic lanes along Division Avenue to slow down traffic and possibly make room for on-street parking.

The first storefronts should be ready for tenants this fall.

Source: Kurt Hassberger, Rockford Construction; Michael Zalewski, Seyferth PR
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

Photos of a retail interior sketch and before photos of the Peck Building courtesy of Rockford Construction