In the News

Mayor Bernero welcomes new business owners to Old Town during ribbon-cutting ceremonies

MLive Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Five new and two relocated businesses in Old Town celebrated ribbon cuttings with Mayor Virg Bernero last week.

According to excerpts from the article:

The businesses, each of which has opened or re-opened in the past nine months, include Linda J. Beeman Studio, Salon 1131, Old Town Marquee, Portable Feast, Bradly’s Home and Garden, Michigan Historic Preservation Network and Michigan Community Resources.

Read the entire story here.

Old Town businesses mark move, opening

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, July 18, 2012

An Old Town business celebrated its openings and another marked its new location last week.

According to excerpts from the story:

Redhead Design Studio, which recently moved to the Walker Building at 1135 N. Washington Ave., and new restaurant Meat Southern B.B.Q. & Carnivore Cuisine, 1224 Turner St., were part of a ribbon-cutting event that spotlighted their new locations in Lansing’s Old Town business district.

Read the entire article here.

Broad Art Museum opening a pop-up museum in Old Town Lansing

WKAR Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University will share art with the Greater Lansing area this summer with an off-campus exhibition.

According to excerpts from the article:

In Old Town Lansing, a show featuring the work of Kristin Cammermeyer, a recent graduate of the Cranbrook Academy of Art, kicks off Friday.

The exhibit is at the former Chrome Cat bar on Grand River Avenue.

Read the entire story here.

Tria Marketing & Design is seeing growth

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Old Town-based Tria Marketing & Design is growing, both in staff and revenue.

According to excerpts from the article:

Tria Marketing & Design added two new hires in late 2011 to double the size of the firm. In addition, the firms revenues were up 57% year over year from 2010. After undergoing a structural change in late 2010, where two long time partners left for other opportunities, President and CEO Ann Siegle embarked on a growth plan for the 9-year old female-owned marketing, web design & graphic design firm.

Read the entire article here.

Home and Garden opens in Old Town

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, February 01, 2012

A new Old Town business, Home and Garden, has opened on East Grand River.

According to excerpts from the article:

The business, located inside Absolute Gallery at 307 E. Grand River, offers home furnishings, accessories, lighting, reclaimed items, services and seasonal garden items. There will be an open house 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday.

Read the entire article here.

Old Town building may get new life

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The Michigan Historic Preservation Network is considering the purchase of a vacant historic building in Old Town.

According to excerpts from the article:

Lansing economic development leaders want to sell what is knows as the Thelma Joyce Osteen Comfort Station building, 313 E. Grand River Ave., to the Michigan Historic Preservation Network for $60,000.

The network would locate its offices on the second floor and look for a first-floor commercial or professional tenant.

Read the entire article here.

Shared space co-working facility finds a following in Lansing's Old Town

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Home-based office workers are finding networking opportunities, office space and amenities at Second Gear Coworking in Lansing's Old Town.

According to excerpts from the story:

Derek Kastner sometimes heads to a coffee shop when he feels cooped up in his home office, even though it's not always an ideal workplace.

Kastner was starting to consider opening his own co-working facility when he learned about Second Gear Coworking at 1134 N. Washington Ave. in Lansing's Old Town district. Now, he has a place to go when home gets to be too much�and he pays for access without feeling as though he's taking advantage of a business.

Second Gear came about when Gravity Works Design and Development decided to lease the 700-square-foot space next to its office.

Second Gear markets itself as an ideal spot for entrepreneurs, freelancers, writers, designers, software developers, educators, lawyers, small-business owners and startups.

Users can pay $15 a day or up to $240 for 20 visits to use the facility's desks, Internet access, conference area, projector, printer and other office amenities.

Read the entire story here.

World Record Unofficially Broken By Lansing Man's Cockroach Feat

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Lansing man and Preuss Pets employee, Sean Murphy, set an unofficial word record on Sunday, Oct. 24 by filling his mouth with 16 Madagascar hissing cockroaches for 10 seconds.

According to excerpts from the article:

Paperwork is being sent to Guinness World Records for official verification, Murphy said.

He set an unofficial record last year by stuffing the same number in his mouth but did not have the necessary documentation for an official record.

Read the entire article (and watch the video!) here.

Why The Capital Region Is A Great Place To Be An Entrepreneur

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, September 08, 2010

According to Doug Stites, of Capital Area Michigan Works!, entrepreneurship is possible for nearly everyone, and the Capital region is emerging as a great place for people to start a new business, take risks and seek out their passion or innovative idea.

According to excerpts from the article.

Entrepreneur Magazine named East Lansing one of the top 10 college towns to start a business, CNN Money named Greater Lansing one of the 50 most business-friendly cities.

And most recently, well-known financial news organization Kiplinger's named Lansing one of the top 10 cities in the country for young adults.

Incubator space such as the East Lansing Technology Innovation Center, NEO Center and the Hatch is making it easier for individuals with great ideas and solid business plans to put it in action without needing much capital to start.

Read the entire article here.

Elderly Instruments in Old Town Nurtures Great Global Reputation

Lansing Noise Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Elderly Instruments, based in Lansing's Old Town neighborhood, has supplied influential musicians like Lyle Lovett, John Mayer and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers with their dream instruments.

According to excerpts from the article:

The locally owned instrument sales and repair shop, which celebrates its 39th anniversary this year, has grown into one of the world's biggest dealers of vintage instruments. Elderly has also become a meeting place for local musicians to jam out on instruments, meet like-minded music-lovers and find just about everything they need to gig out.

Step into the showroom on North Washington, and it's easy to see why Elderly is a favorite stop: Guitars of every make hang from the walls. That's not to mention mandolins, banjos, ukuleles and a collection of other music makers.

Read the entire article here.

You can also read Capital Gains' earlier story about Elderly's online retail success here.

Kiplinger Names Lansing One of Nation's Top Ten Best Cities For Young Adults

Kiplinger Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Lansing is among the 10 best cities for young adults, according to a national financial news magazine. Kiplinger cited Lansing�s low rent and high-paying technology job opportunities in its list of cities, which also included Chicago, Austin and Portland, Ore.

According to excerpts from the article:

We began our search using the criteria we used to select our overall list of Best Cities for the Next Decade: healthy economies fueling new job growth.

We fine-tuned our search using other youth-friendly factors such as large percentages of people under 35, cost of living and rental costs, culture, nightlife, and the time you're likely to spend in traffic.

Home to five medical schools, two law schools and Michigan State University, Michigan�s capital is a little-known hotbed for young professionals. Granted, this Great Lakes community can�t quite compare to the larger cities on our list in terms of job prospects or things to do. But it has a relatively low cost of living. And its youthful population, downtown renewal projects, and emerging technology sector make Lansing a stand-out in mid-sized cities.

Read the entire article and view the slideshow here.

Lansing Competes For $190 Million GM Plant Upgrade

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Lansing hopes to entice General Motors to invest $190 million in a Lansing plant to ramp up for production of a new vehicle.

According to excerpts from the article:

The city of Lansing could end up offering General Motors Co. $9.8 million in tax incentives if the automaker picks a Lansing plant for a new vehicle.

That is the amount of a personal property tax abatement Mayor Virg Bernero wants the Lansing City Council to approve to help persuade GM to invest $190 million to add an unnamed vehicle � and about 600 jobs � to its Lansing Grand River assembly line.

The abatement would be spread out over 25 years � or about $390,000 a year.

GM isn't saying what other sites it's considering for the work.

However, GM has said it plans to bring the work to an existing factory. In addition to Lansing Grand River, GM currently has assembly plants elsewhere in Michigan as well as in Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Texas and Louisiana.

Read the entire article here.

Capital Region Concerts Work to Build On Area's Quality of Life

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, July 14, 2010

As Lansing kicks off its Common Ground Music Festival, the region takes stock of the myriad benefits of its growing concert and festival lineup.

According to excerpts from the article:

From city-sponsored events to events sponsored by arts councils and businesses, organizers say the main goal is to increase the quality of life in the community.

Businesses near free-concert venues also find themselves often benefiting, creating a mix that seems to make free concerts pay off for everyone involved.

The East Lansing Summer Concert Series helps draw people to the downtown business area. But it's also a way for the city to express how much it values community events, arts and culture, and bringing the community together, said Ami Van Antwerp, East Lansing's communications coordinator.

"One of the things people really value about living here is all of the festivals and events you can attend," she said.

Read the article here.

On Earth Magazine Touts Lansing's Entrepreneurial Culture, Sustainability

On Earth Magazine Wednesday, May 05, 2010

MSU student and periodic Capital Gains contributor, Kelly Steffen, writes in On Earth magazine about the four key things Lansing is doing to support more innovation, sustainability and young talent in the Capital region.

According to excerpts from the article:

Many people have this perception of Michigan and even more specifically of Lansing, that is clogged with a generic negativity. I will even admit that before I plugged myself into this whole vibrant and innovative scene, I thought only "losers" who couldn't find a job in Chicago or elsewhere, stayed here.

Now, I know I couldn't have been further from the truth. Both young and old students, professionals and entrepreneurs here in Lansing work endlessly to create green cities, collaborative co-working spaces and a vibrant nightlife.

So, before you even start with "there's no opportunities nor a fun nightlife in Lansing (or Michigan)," come hang out with me and my friends for a day, we'll change your mind.

My life is booming with innovative ideas, entrepreneurial resources, incredible mentors, impressive friends in Lansing; yours could be too.

Read the entire article here.

City's First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens in Old Town Neighborhood

Lansing State Journal Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Danny Trevino opened Lansing�s first official medical marijuana dispensary in the city's Old Town neighborhood.

According to excerpts from the article:

In a storefront in Lansing's Old Town, Darryl Brija waits patiently in a chair while Rochelle Harris checks his driver's license and measures out a quarter-ounce of marijuana.

Brija, 52, of Potterville, hands over $90 in cash. Harris hands him the plastic bag of marijuana, which Brija slips into his jacket pocket.

The transaction is business as usual at Lansing's first official medical marijuana dispensary, which might test the limits of the state's medicinal marijuana law.

Read the entire article here.

Old Town : In the News