Development News

Local owners open area's third Culver's in Eastwood Towne Center

Jay Laing, Culver's Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Lansing just can’t seem to get enough of Culver’s, the fast food franchise famous for its frozen custard. Holt residents Jay Laing and Scott Berman have now opened their first, but the area’s third Culver’s restaurant in Eastwood Towne Center.

“We looked at a variety of concepts, and Culver’s was the best fit for us,” says Laing. “It’s really proven to be successful over the past several years.”

The 4,300 square foot restaurant is one of the first few Culver’s in the nation with an updated floor plan that gives customers and employees more room. The restaurant holds 108 diners, and currently employs about 60 workers. Even more diners will be welcome when the weather allows them to open their patio.

“We went to great lengths to make the patio an appealing place,” Laing says.

The new Culver’s opened last week after breaking ground in July. Laing says the business plans to be active in the community, including events and partnerships within Eastwood Towne Center.

Opie's Pizza to open, create 11 jobs on Chandler Road

Paul De Leon, Opie's Pizza Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Paul De Leon could be opening an authentic Mexican restaurant in Wisconsin right now, but thanks to a chance meeting while shopping for a truck to take him there, his plans changed.

“The sales guy had a long experience with pizza,” says De Leon. “He had a really good pizza recipe, and he asked me if I was interested in opening a restaurant with him.”

That’s how De Leon and Bill Grantham began their working relationship, which will result in the opening of Opie’s Pizza on Chandler Road in Bath Township later this month.

“We’re about 96 percent ready,” De Leon says. “We had to make a pizza place out of a room with just four walls. We had to make the kitchen and dining room and bathrooms. It was a lot of work.”

De Leon and Grantham hope all that work will be worthwhile when they open their doors on January 23. The 1,800 square foot restaurant will include a full bar and will employ 11 workers upon opening.

The business partners hope to expand Opie’s Pizza into a franchise, beginning with future locations in Old Town and Grand Ledge.

New home healthcare agency celebrates ribbon cutting, to add 20 jobs

Christina Goedert, The Caring & Compassionate Health Care Agency Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Lansing-area residents in need of home healthcare now have a new option in The Caring & Compassionate Health Care Agency on East Grand River. The company celebrated its ribbon cutting with the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce on November 30.

“We like to share compassion toward the people we’re taking care of,” says Office Manager Christina Goedert. “We like to set ourselves apart with the kind of one-on-one care we provide for them.”

According to Goedert, The Caring & Compassionate Health Care Agency is now also one of just three home healthcare agencies in the Lansing area that is certified with the Joint Commission for Medicare. Their recent certification is causing their current staff of five to soon jump to approximately 25 over the next couple of months.

The Caring & Compassionate Health Care Agency offers a variety of in-home services for patients, including cardiac nursing, diabetic care, IV therapy, post-surgical care, rehabilitation and more. Goedert says the business hopes to eventually expand into a school to train home healthcare workers.

The company, which began in Minnesota, opened their second location in Lansing to serve the growing population of elderly residents, and because of CEO Mattie Brown’s connection to the area. Brown has owned both a daycare facility and beauty salon in Lansing.

Twisted Fiber Art expands into Mason space, doubles staff

Anne Bohl, Twisted Fiber Art Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Until recently, Twisted Fiber Art, was a bit of a secret in Mason. Operating for seven years in founder Meg Campbell-Crawley’s home. Though Campbell-Crawley’s unique, hand-dyed yarns have gained a worldwide following, the growing operation was hardly visible at all locally.

All of that changed when she and partner Anne Bohl officially outgrew their space and opened in a 2,000 square foot studio and retail space in Downtown Mason in 2012.

“We weren’t looking for a retail spot,” says Bohl, “but we came in and talked to the woman who owns the space, and it was great for us. We have triple the space we had before, and people have really enjoyed it. The yarn is a real tactile thing, and they’ve wanted to touch it.”

As it turns out, the retail space was a great boon to the business. Since their move, Twisted Fiber Art has nearly doubled their staff, now employing nine workers, and fans of their yarn have traveled from miles around to see the unusual product.

“We start with really nice yarn,” Bohl says of Twisted Fiber Art’s unique appeal. “Meg’s eye for color is just really, really special. Each skein is dyed by hand and with care.

Bohl explains that the yarn differs from other products because their colors are not variegated, but striped, creating a different color-changing effect.

“You can’t even tell the color is changing.,” she says. “It creates something that is just a show stopper.”

According to Bohl, she and Campbell-Crawley will continue to focus on slow, steady growth in their new location. The shop will soon add knitting lessons to their business, giving novice knitters the chance to learn how to do more and better knitting with their popular product.

The independent bookstore returns to Holt with The Bookshelf

Laura Murphy, The Bookshelf Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Some may believe the era of the independent bookstore is ending, but Laura Murphy isn’t buying it. When Bargain Books in Holt closed after Murphy managed the store for seven year, she wasn’t ready to give up on the concept – or the customers.

“I enjoy the people who shopped there,” Murphy says. “The customers are just great. I've done a lot of retail in my day, and they're the best customers.”

That’s why Murphy opened The Bookshelf on Cedar in Holt in 2012. The approximately 2,300 square foot store offers fiction, children’s literature, textbooks, special orders and more. Murphy says that so far, her hunch that an independent bookstore could still survive seems to be true.

“Every day I get new customer in, and it gets better every day,” she says. “I didn't expect to make any money in the first year…but we did.”

Murphy hopes The Bookshelf will continue to grow so she can hire employees, and potentially open another store in the Lansing area.

Grand Ledge's Design Rides triples size with new shop, expands staff

John Williams, Design Rides Wednesday, January 09, 2013

It was only by chance that John Williams moved his business Design Rides from Ionia to Grand Ledge in 2008 after his former landlord sold the building that house it. It turned out to be a great move for the auto detailing and customization business, which has doubled in volume since arriving in Grand Ledge.

Design Rides grew so much, in fact, that they recently celebrated the opening of their new, larger location on East Saginaw.

“We have a big clientele now,” says Williams. “I think it’s our dedication to making it right. We always make sure that everything is correct.”

They’ll have a lot more room to exercise their attention to detail. The new, 2,800-square foot location is more than three times the size of the former Design Rides shop.

“We’re going to start offering more services,” says Williams. “We’ll be able to start offering spray-on bed lining, custom fiberglass work, fiberglass tops, and offering lift kits.”

Additionally, he says, Design Rides will be able to start working their way through a waiting list of customers that extends out of state. The growing business now has a staff for four full- and two part-time employees, two of which have been added over that last year. Williams expects to add two more full time staffers in the near future.

Facials & More to open in Downtown Williamston

Cheryl Selph, Facials & More Wednesday, January 09, 2013

After seven years of working as an aesthetician for a variety of spas and medical offices, Williamston native Cheryl Selph will be bringing her talents home with the new Facials & More, slated to open in February.

“Most of my background is in medical skin care with medical-grade chemical peels and skin care products,” says Selph. “I decided if I'm going to open something, it's got to be medical grade. It has to be something people can't go out and buy over the counter.”

Facials & More will open in a 450 square foot office on Grand River in Williamston. Selph will offer chemical peels, laser hair removal, detox body wraps and skin rejuvenations. Selph will be working in association with a Novi-based doctor for all medical procedures.

“It's a pretty busy little plaza,” Selph says of her location. “It's not huge, but I wanted to start out where it's affordable.”

Selph hopes to open Facials & More in early February with the help of her daughter, who will work in the office as well. Eventually, Selph hopes to grow her business into a franchise.

La Fontaine Ford opens near Jolly and Cedar, grows staff

John Berghoefer, La Fontaine Ford Wednesday, January 09, 2013

There’s a new kind of Ford shopping experience near Jolly and Cedar in Lansing. La Fontaine Ford opened its doors on December 14, bringing changes to the dealership formally known as the Central Truck Center.

“They were selling Ford trucks and Kenworth semis,” says John Berghoefer, general sales manager for La Fontaine Ford. “They took the Kenworth sales and moved that, and we took over the truck part of it.”

Berghoefer explains that while semi sales used to be the primary emphasis of the dealership, the new business plans to sell a much higher volume of Ford trucks and SUVs.

“We're already hoping we can sell this month what they would sell in a year,” says Berghoefer. “Our expectations for this dealership are huge. I think we can meet them.”

The seven-acre dealership now employs a staff of 30, and soon will hire even more. According to Berghoefer, about 40 percent of the existing staff is made up of new jobs, and the remaining positions were retained from the former dealership.

Option 1 Credit Union to grow with new branches, three new staff

Jerri Schmidt, Option 1 Credit Union Wednesday, December 19, 2012

It’s going to be a busy 2013 for Option 1 Credit Union in Lansing. The Grand Rapids-based organization will be moving, growing and building in the New Year. The changes will include two new facilities, and a short move to a renovated space.

The Option 1 Credit Union in the Sparrow Professional Building will close in January in advance of the upcoming new locations. One new branch will be located on Hagadorn and Lake Lansing Road, and the other will also be on Lake Lansing Road, near their current West Road location.

While the construction is underway on the new locations, the West Road branch will not only continue its service, but will share the space with CASE Credit Union.

“Credit unions are always known for being very collaborative and cooperative,” says Option 1 Vice President-Marketing Jerri Schmidt.

Additionally, the Option 1 Credit Union branch on South Cedar will also be making a move, albeit a short one. The bank will transition into a newly renovated space right door.

Option 1 Credit Union currently employs a staff of about 125 in the Lansing area. The various transitions will result in about three new positions immediately, though Schmidt says she expect that to be just the beginning of the credit union’s growth in the region.

The board of directors and staff of Option 1 further demonstrated their commitment to the Lansing area by recently forgoing a staff holiday party to instead donate $1,500 to the Greater Lansing Food Bank.

Grand Ledge Auto to celebrate ribbon cutting

Hugh McNichol, Grand Ledge Auto Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Grand Ledge drivers have a new option for serving their vehicles. Everett High School grade Hugh McNichol began his career in automotive repair as a mechanic in the army reserves. After attending LCC for automotive technology and serving in Iraq, the local man returned to the Lansing area to continue his career.

McNichol’s Grand Ledge Auto will celebrate their opening earlier this year with a ribbon cutting on December 17. The four-bay auto shop is located at at 854 West Jefferson.

“I do diagnostics, engine repair, brakes, suspension, air conditioning and hybrids,” says McNichol.

The only things McNichol doesn’t do, he says, are tires and bodywork. The ASE certified automotive technician says he plans to continue to develop his skills in his new business.

“I’d like to one day to do electric conversions on gas vehicles,” McNichols says.

Healthy Horizons nutrition club opens in Okemos

Cindy Smith, Healthy Horizons Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Getting healthy in Okemos just got a little easier – and more fun, according to Cindy Smith, partner in the new Healthy Horizons nutrition club.

“It is a place for people to gather, and to bring people together with a focus on nutrition," says Smith

Healthy Horizons opened this month on Jolly Road in Okemos. The 1,400-square foot club is owned and operated by five partners, or “coaches.” Members of the club receive a daily meal-replacement smoothie, energizing tea and a shot of aloe.

Additionally, Healthy Horizons hosts fit camps and weight loss challenges. While all of the coaches are passionate about nutrition for their own reasons, they are particularly proud of the new facility for a more personal one.

“This club is near and dear to us because one of our team members was in the process opening this club up, and they became very ill and passed,” says Smith. “So now there is a group of us who came together rand make his dream a reality and open it.”

According to Smith, the nutrition club concept began in Mexico, and has now expanded to more than 1,200 clubs across the US.

Brickhouse Grille to open in Portland, create 35 jobs

Mike Hoorman, Brickhouse Grille Wednesday, December 19, 2012

A new fine dining experience is coming to Downtown Portland with the Brickhouse Grille. The new restaurant is expected to open December 29 with a focus on steak and fresh seafood.

“Everything is going to be fresh,” says owner Mike Hoorman. “This fish will literally be swimming 24 hours before I get it. We’ll also have pasta, chicken, and will be smoking our own meats in-house.”

The 2,200 square foot restaurant is now taking shape in a former furniture store in Downtown Portland. Hoorman and his team has been hard at work since November, stripping the floors, replacing windows and installing the kitchen.

“It was a perfect opportunity here in Portland,” Hoorman says. “There’s great parking, 125-year-old brick, 100-year-old wood flooring. It was just perfect.”

The Brickhouse Grille will seat about 70 diners and will employ a staff of 35. Hoorman says the restaurant will place an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients.

Historic Old Town building to receive new life with Michigan Historic Preservation Network

Nancy Finegood, Michigan Historic Preservation Network Wednesday, December 12, 2012

More than 80 years ago, there was a problem in Old Town. While waiting for the train, gentlemen would bide their time in the cigar shop, but there was no place for women and children, who were consequently left waiting outside in the elements. The solution to the issue was the Thelma Joyce Osteen Comfort Station. Now that the building has outlived its original purpose and has been long vacant, the Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) is the solution for bringing new life into the building.

“We’ve been around for over 35 years, and we thought it was time to do our own rehab project,” says Nancy Finegood, executive director of the MHPN. “We’ve been looking at the building for seven or eight years. It’s a really key landmark building in Old Town.”

The non-profit has been working on the estimated $680,000 project for more than a year now, and is financing the renovation with help from incentives such as the final round of state historic preservation tax credits from the state, a façade grant from the City of Lansing, a grant from the Michigan Architectural Foundation, as well as a $68,177 Community Revitalization Program grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“We’re doing everything from environmental abatement to installing an elevator,” Finegood says. “We’re building out the offices and we’ll have a new roof – we’re doing everything from nuts to bolts.”

The MHPN will utilize the second floor of the building for their offices, and plans to move in around February of 2013. A commercial tenant is being sought for the 500 square foot space on the first floor.

The increased space will include a conference room that will allow the MHPN to hold board meetings and other events in-house. Already, the organization has hosted a two-week window rehabilitation training in the building.

Coco's Off the Rack opens on Lake Lansing, creates four jobs

Colleen Adams, Coco's Off the Rack Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Coco’s Off the Rack may have just opened in September, but Colleen Adams has been in the wedding gown business for decades.

“It started with me just really just loving fashion,” Adams says. “I started out working retail in different places, and before Lett’s went out of business I worked there. I decided it was time to branch out and do something on my own.”

That “something” became Coco’s Off the Rack on Lake Lansing Road in East Lansing. The 2,000 square foot store not only sells bridal dresses, but also prom, ready-to-wear, and offers alterations.

Though only open for a couple of months, Adams has already been busy with brides and other shoppers. The bustle has validated her decision to open in Lansing, even though she considered other options.

“Originally, I looed around at Novi because that’s were I live,” says Adams. “The more I thought about it, it seemed more reasonable to come to Lansing, because I’ve been working here since 1993.”

In addition to Adams the store currently employs one part-time employee, and Adams plans to soon hire two additional staffers. Coco’s will be hosting an open house this Saturday, along with her neighbors, Ann’s Dance Studio, Cutters’ Point and Magic BJJ Martial Arts Center.

Famous Taco expands into REO Town, adds four jobs

Frank Delacruz, Famous Taco Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Famous Taco is now never too far from wherever you are in Lansing.

“I think we’re going to be able to cover pretty much all of Lansing, east, west, south and north,” says Frank Delacruz, former owner and husband of current owner of Famous Taco.

The third location, which opened in November in REO Town, has special meaning to the family, as the Washington Street storefront was the home of the very first restaurant Delacruz owned with his father in 1968, called “Acapulco.”

Like the other two Famous Taco locations, the new restaurant offers sit-down, takeout, delivery and catering. Though they are still working on building up their delivery business on the Southside, Delacruz is impressed with how quickly they developed a lunch crowd.

“It’s going good,” he says. “With all the people who work for the City and the Board of Water and Light and the GM plant, we have a super lunch.”

The new Famous Taco currently employs a staff of four. Delacruz says his wife Peggy is looking to continue their expansion with possible locations in Dewitt, Holt and Eaton Rapids.