Retail

Proposed $30M downtown Grand Rapids market far from sealed and delivered, but moving forward

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August 19, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodThe development of a proposed $30 million year-round urban market for downtown Grand Rapids is far from sealed and delivered, but the group behind the idea says the project is closer to being signed.The proposed project would convert six historic buildings on Ionia Avenue SW between Wealthy and Logan streets into a 178,000-square-foot mixed-use marketplace. A March 2010 public document, Grand Rapids Urban Market: Background Information, states the initial concept envisions restaurants, indoor vendor stalls for independent owner-operated businesses selling fresh produce, baked goods, cheeses and meats, and a leasable commercial kitchen incubator space. David Frey, co-chair of Grand Action with John Canepa and Dick DeVos, the group that spearheaded the development of the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place, says architects are drawing up preliminary plans while crews are busy cleaning up the property.The Downtown Development Authority owns the property, the site of the old Sonneveldt Produce Company. Frey says it "will probably be owned by a newly created nonprofit entity, but it's still in negotiation. There are no guarantees (for development of the market)." Frey estimates the project at $27 million, plus an estimated $3 million for the 3.5-acre parcel."Engineers are determining if the buildings are structurally sound," says Frey. "If you drive by this week you'll see that crews are cleaning up the site so we can see what we have to deal with.""We not only have to design a great facility we can afford to build and run, but we have to be sure the surrounding area is developed with activities compatible with an urban market and not have a contrary purpose or intent," Frey says. "The nearby Kingman's and Baker Furniture buildings would have to be developed in an architecturally- and content-compatible manner." Grand Action hired Design Plus and urban market design expert Hugh Boyd of Montclair, N.J. for the project. Frey expects to see the architects' design concept in early September.Source: David Frey, Grand ActionDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

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Zeeland shop of repurposed furniture, home decor is Not So Shabby

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General

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August 19, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodShoppers who love cottage and shabby chic decorating styles will feel right at home at Not So Shabby, a new home décor and furniture store in downtown Zeeland. The store, 152 E. Main St., connects to MainStreet Sweets, both owned by Jackie Bordner and her husband, Duane. "We have ten different vendors who sell antiques, new and used home décor, and cottage-y shabby chic furniture," says Jackie Bordner. "One section is all retro items from the '50s, '60s and '70s. We also have a handful of crafters, and an interior designer who has a lot of her own clientele, but also sells shabby chic furniture, antique clocks and old bottles."The shop also has an upholsterer who does custom reupholstery and sells reupholstered furniture, Bordner says. Vendors rent floor space for $2 a square foot, but Bordner says the shop doesn't have a "boxed up" look like an antiques mall. Each vendor's booth flows into the next vendor's space, so much so that many customers don't realize it. The Bordners have proven they are creative entrepreneurs. They opened Clothes Junkie in 2007, MainStreet Sweets in 2009, and set out on this new venture earlier this year. "We sold Clothes Junkie, and right after that, this space became available," Bordner says. "I always loved buying and selling and redoing furniture just for myself. We watched a similar store in Holland to see how well they would do, and we figured if they could do so well, why can't we?"Not So Shabby is open Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri. 10 to 8, Weds. 10 to 5:30, and Sat. 10- to 4:30.Source: Jackie Bordner, Not So Shabby; Abigail de Roo, City of ZeelandRelated ArticlesNew second-hand clothing store sells style in downtown ZeelandCandy store owner has a sweet spot for ZeelandDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Grand Rapids marketing firm launches custom software company, iPhone app for beach bums

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Innovation News

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August 19, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodGrand Rapids-based Steketee Greiner Co. dove headfirst into the digital marketing waters this week with the launch of a new company and the release of an iPhone 4 app for water sports enthusiasts. SGC, formerly ContextMG, 44 Grandville Ave. SW, has formed Catalyst SGC to take over the development of customized software solutions and applications, mobile development and traditional online development for Fortune 1000 clients who want to leverage the digital marketplace. And the iPhone 4 app, Beach Bum, advises users when weather and water conditions are right for fishing, boating, sail boarding and other water sports in any of the Great Lakes or United States coastal regions. "It's tied into national systems and measures air and water temperature, wave height, the UV index and wind speed, and includes a synopsis of the weather forecast," says David Greiner, SGC's chief creative officer. "It has real time radar plus warnings and alerts for severe weather, and is customizable."As for the launch of the new company, Greiner says SGC acquired another Grand Rapids firm, Access Programming Group, Inc., and brought aboard two of its programmers – one experienced in artificial intelligence, the other in application development."SGC has always been focused on the digital marketing space, and kept a small team of creative people and programmers," Greiner says. "It made sense to put that team out on its own as Catalyst SGC and create a new business model independent of Steketee Greiner."Catalyst SGC has eight employees. Greiner says he hopes to build it to 10 in 2011. He says Steketee Greiner hired five people this year and gross sales are up 30 percent over 2009. Beach Bum sells for $1.99 at the iTunes store. Source: David Greiner, Steketee Greiner Company and Catalyst SGCRelated ArticlesSaugatuck marketing firm brings 10 jobs to Grand Rapids, ready to add four moreContextMG adds five jobs, three interns after relocating to Grand RapidsDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Eco-friendly dentist turns downtown Zeeland buildings into dental office, retail, and living space

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General

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August 12, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodTwo side-by-side buildings in downtown Zeeland have been transformed into two boutique-sized retail spaces, a residential condo, and a new dental office suite for a new dental practice, Smedley Dental.Meredith Smedley, D.D.S., who bills herself as an eco-friendly dentist, and her husband Shane, bought 131 and 133 E. Main Ave. with a plan to convert one building to her dental office, the other to retail. But those plans changed when they discovered that the front portion of both buildings had to be dedicated to retail. "About two years ago, the city passed an ordinance that requires the front 40 percent of a building downtown to be retail space," says Abigail de Roo, city of Zeeland marketing director. So Smedley and Grand Rapids architect David Maxam made new plans. "We have two retail bays up front that we will eventually lease out," Smedley says. "We took the back portion of both buildings for the dental office. There are already two apartments upstairs and we will combine them and that's where my family and I will live." The Smedley's have two daughters, ages five and three.This is Smedley's first solo practice, although she's been a dentist in Zeeland for over six years. Her goal is to make the waiting room look and feel like a living room to help patients relax, and she also aims to run an eco-conscious business. Besides carpet and countertops made from recycled materials and the use of no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and adhesives, Smedley plans to use as many reusable dental products as possible, such as headrest covers and drinking cups. She will also install special water filters that will filter out the mercury found in silver amalgam material used to fill cavities in teeth, and will let patients choose whether they want to use the amalgam or another less harmful filling material. "We're trying to be as eco-friendly as possible," Smedley says. "We want to be comforting and nurturing and make the experience very different than a typical dentist office."Source: Meredith Smedley, D.D.S, Smedley Dental; Abigail de Roo, City of ZeelandDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Fresh fruit and vegetable market ready to open in Grand Rapids’ Alger Heights

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Development

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August 12, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodKen Courts has 25 years of running Ionia's successful McCord's Farm Market in the bag, and now he and his son Aaron Courts are ready to open a similar fresh fruit and vegetable market in the former Alger Heights Foods location, 2420 Eastern Ave. SE, Grand Rapids. Ken Courts, 48, sold his part of McCord's, and moved to Florida for five years where he owned a construction company. When the economy tanked, he closed the construction company and came back to Michigan looking for the right place to open Ken's Fruit Market. "When I was in Florida, I was looking online and talking to realtors in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit because I wanted the market to be in one of those cities," says Courts. "Grand Rapids and Detroit have real good wholesale markets, and I knew Grand Rapids because I was born here and lived here for 10 years of my life. "The neighborhood is real diverse ethnically, and that's important to this kind of business," he says. Besides fresh produce, Ken's Fruit Market will offer milk, bread, cheese, canned goods, bulk candies, and trail mix bought in bulk and packaged at the store. There will also be a selection of wild birdseed.Courts plans to add a butcher shop in the near future. In the meantime, he'll sell packaged meats and poultry. Courts and his staff have begun stocking the market with non-perishables while waiting for the final okay from city inspectors to open the doors on Thursday, August 12. He's optimistic that everything will be on schedule."We will get produce late Wednesday night, and will come in about 3 a.m. on Thursday morning and start putting it all out," he says. Store hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.Source: Ken Courts, Ken's Fruit MarketDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Crane’s in the City opens in Holland, a spin off of Fennville’s popular bakery and restaurant

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Development News

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August 5, 2010

Fennville's popular Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant & Bakery has spun off a new restaurant, this time in downtown Holland where visitors can enjoy Crane's to-die-for famous pastries and foods.

Blue House Bistro opens in Holland with Cajun, Creole, American and Mediterranean offerings

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General

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July 29, 2010

An aging vacant wood-frame building near the historic section of Holland has been transformed into a real delight for hungry visitors with its newest arrival: the Blue House Bistro. Diners can choose from a large and tasty selection of Cajun, Creole, American and Mediterranean dishes, including Greek and Spanish, which are unique to the Lakeshore area.

Crossroads Blueberry Market opens in West Olive

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Development News

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July 22, 2010

After owning their blueberry farm for 10 years, Dave and Kelley Reenders have decided to expand to retail customers with the summer opening of Crossroads Blueberry Market in West Olive.

Eastside Tattoos’ new, compact digs allows Grand Rapids tattooist to focus on the art

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Arts & Culture

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July 15, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodTattooist Andy Zylstra says his new store at 856 Michigan St. NE is one-tenth the size of his old place on Wealthy Street, but the uncluttered atmosphere helps him focus on his art. Eastside Tattoos offers only tattooing – much of which is custom artwork by Zylstra, who has 12 years' experience as a tattoo artist and is also a watercolor artist."We have lots of flash (tattoo designs), we have hundreds, maybe thousands," says Zylstra. "But I mostly do custom stuff. People usually come in with an idea or a drawing or something printed off the computer. Other people just trust me and I do my own artwork; that's my favorite thing to do."Zylstra "can do pretty much any color" of ink, but his personal preference is to work in black and gray. "Black and gray goes with everything, it looks good, it weathers nicely," he says. "Lots of colors fade, but as black and gray fades it looks better and better."Most of Eastside Tattoos' customers are women, Zylstra says, so he does a lot of flowers, but also does Japanese designs and skulls. His most popular request is medieval-style script writing. A special thermal fax machine allows him to print outlines of images he transfers to customers' skin so they can see how a tattoo looks before making the commitment. Zylstra says his shop is licensed by the state of Michigan, complies with the requirements of the Kent County Health Department and has received an award of completion on blood borne pathogens from the Alliance of Professional Tattooists. "Everything gets sterilized, everything comes of out packages," he says. "Nothing is stored all together outside of its packaging like it was in the 1930s. That would be horrific."Store hours are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sundays and Tuesdays.Source: Andy Zylstra, Eastside TattoosDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

Helping low income kids prompts Muskegon entrepreneurs to open downtown clothing store

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Development

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July 15, 2010

Deborah Johnson WoodWorlie Johnson wasn't making the kind of money he used to make, and he and his wife Mary had to cut back on their charitable giving. So they launched SPELLBOUND, a men's and women's clothing and shoe store at 942 Terrace in Muskegon. The Johnsons began SPELLBOUND several years ago as a program promoting history and spelling bees in schools, and awarded prizes to the winners. The new storefront allows them to continue providing for kids' basic needs: free haircuts, clothing, shoes, and funding for small scholarships for track athletes and for beauty schools. "I worked at Pete's Shoebox and learned the business," says Worlie Johnson. "I was earning money for the scholarships. After the economy got bad, I took what I had saved up and got an account for 48 pair of shoes with Stacy Adams." The store also sells designer clothing – men's suits, women's dresses – and clergy shirts, carrying enough inventory for customers to find what they want. Most items are custom ordered and delivered in three to five days, says Johnson. Discounts are given to anyone who brings in a ticket stub showing they supported a school event, receipts from certain barbershops in town, or who say they belong to a worship community. One way or another, the couple has funded free haircuts for school kids since 2005, says Johnson. The latest method is a deal through the store for free shoes for barbers providing the haircuts. Johnson says many of the barbers give the free haircuts and don't bother collecting on the free shoes. "We started this to be a help to the community," Johnson says. "We wanted to do whatever we could do to alleviate the pain for the kids."Source: Worlie Johnson, SPELLBOUND; Ed Garner, Muskegon Area FirstDeborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com. Development News tips can be sent to info@rapidgrowthmedia.com.