
Kate Carlson
Staff Writer, covers real estate and development and small businesses
Twitter: @BizCarlson
Email: [email protected]
Local retailers gear up for holiday season showing strong consumer confidence
With fewer COVID-19 restrictions on in-person shopping and rising consumer confidence, retail experts and small business owners hope to see an increase in holiday shopping compared to 2020
Nonprofit hub takes shape at new Special Olympics Michigan headquarters
BYRON TWP. — Pam Liggett isn’t sure whether the nonprofit she leads would exist today if it wasn’t for Special Olympics Michigan Inc.’s new headquarters that’s anchoring a hub for several West Michigan nonprofits south of Grand Rapids.
Wheeler Development Group planning 52-unit townhome development near GR
GRAND RAPIDS TWP. — Wheeler Development Group LLC is planning a 52-unit townhome community northeast of Grand Rapids.
Construction starts on mixed-use development with 120 apartments in GR
GRAND RAPIDS — Construction has started on an $18.6 million, mixed-use development with 120 apartments on Grand Rapids’ west side.
South East Market, WMEAC receive federal grant to build equitable community agriculture program
GRAND RAPIDS — The West Michigan Environmental Action Council and Grand Rapids-based South East Market LLC have received a nearly $127,000 federal grant to help fund a program addressing food insecurity.
Grand Rapids advances $22M brownfield plan for new Spectrum Health campus
GRAND RAPIDS — City officials have taken another step toward approving $22 million in brownfield incentives for Spectrum Health’s Center for Transformation and Innovation campus.
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Midwest Air Filter consolidates at new Kentwood location
KENTWOOD — Midwest Air Filter Inc. recently consolidated its Lansing and Grand Rapids locations into a 60,000-square-foot facility in Kentwood.
Terra Bagels expanding with new location in downtown Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — Terra Bagels LLC is expanding with a second location, branching out from the city’s Eastown neighborhood to a downtown Grand Rapids storefront at the Michigan Trust Building that was previously occupied by Ferris Coffee & Nut Co.
‘Employee-driven market’ stalls commercial office leasing, investments
West Michigan’s commercial office market is in a lull as companies remain hesitant to bring back workers while offering more flexible schedules, leading to worsening vacancy rates and a lack of investment in new construction.
Restaurant and bar owners navigate a labor pool in which workers now hold the bargaining power
Kevin Farhat has a fully staffed Garage Bar & Grill near downtown Grand Rapids, and he’s hired about 30 more people to work at a new location opening soon in Ada.
Child care, wage trends hold back women’s workforce re-entry
Women have been slower than men to return to the workforce over the past year and a half. They are more often held back by childcare complications from the pandemic and are likely being dissuaded from returning to frontline positions with low pay.
Software engineer paves way for inclusion in tech industry
Jessa Challa’s interest in geographic information system (GIS) mapping led her to start working in 2019 as a software engineer at Grand Rapids-based tech firm Mallowfields LLC. In September, she became CEO of the company.
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Peoples Cider Co. plans expansion at new mixed-use development on GR’s west side
GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids Planning Commission approved a special land use request Thursday for a developer’s plan to construct a three-story, mixed-use building that will include a new expanded location for The Peoples Cider Co.
Construction begins on $12M GR housing development with 50 mixed-income units
GRAND RAPIDS — Construction recently started on a $12 million, 50-unit apartment complex that’s been in the works since 2017 in the city’s Belknap Lookout neighborhood.
TowerPinkster expands with lakeshore office in Grand Haven
GRAND HAVEN — Architecture and engineering firm TowerPinkster is expanding in West Michigan with plans to open an office in Grand Haven.
School of Rock music school coming to Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — A music school that operates under the same name and a similar style to the movie “School of Rock” is coming to Grand Rapids.
The Candied Yam to convert South Division ‘eyesore’ into new restaurant, banquet hall
GRAND RAPIDS — The owner of southern-style restaurant The Candied Yam LLC is eyeing an expansion with a new banquet hall and restaurant along South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids.
Demolition begins on blighted Witmark building in Plainfield Township; property listed for $3.2M
PLAINFIELD TWP. — The side wall of the Witmark building came crashing down Thursday as workers began demolishing the blighted building that has sat vacant for about 20 years.
Fifth Third Bank lists historic downtown Holland branch building for $4.5M
State approves financing for $13.2M, 52-unit mixed-use project in Kalamazoo
KALAMAZOO — State officials have approved a loan and brownfield incentives for a $13.2 million, five-story mixed-use development planned at a former industrial site north of downtown Kalamazoo.
Dwelling Place pursues 47-unit community land trust housing in southeast Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS — Nonprofit housing developer Dwelling Place is planning to construct nearly 50 single-family condominium units in Grand Rapids that would be permanently affordable under a community land trust model.
Selfie photo destination fills vacancy at Tanger Outlets mall
BYRON CENTER — Among the dozens of retailers at Tanger Outlets outdoor shopping mall in Byron Center, a husband and wife duo are looking to capitalize on the growing movement of dedicated selfie destinations.
Any Colour You Like owners plan Black Napkin to-go restaurant in GR
GRAND RAPIDS — Five years ago, Jason Richardson couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy a tricycle freezer cart he found on Craigslist. It was the first step in starting artisan popsicle business Any Colour You Like Treats LLC with his wife, Korin Hollinshead.
Renowned health care architect joins West Michigan design, engineering firm
Plainfield Township-based architecture and engineering firm Progressive AE Inc. recently grew its team with Vlad Torskiy, who has more than 25 years of experience in health care architecture and strategic planning.
JARS Cannabis plans two more West Michigan dispensaries in Muskegon, Saugatuck
Multi-state retailer JARS Cannabis has announced plans for two more West Michigan dispensaries following the recent completion of a store in Grand Rapids.
Southwest Michigan First receives $100M gift to build career, technical education center
KALAMAZOO — Plans for a Career and Technical Education Center in Kalamazoo County are moving forward following anonymous gifts of $100 million and property for the project, economic development officials announced today.
Butcher’s Union, O’Tooles owners plan new tapas restaurant off Bridge Street
GRAND RAPIDS — The owners of Butcher’s Union and O’Toole’s Public House are planning another restaurant just off of Bridge Street on Grand Rapids’ west side.
Grand Rapids to consider $22M in brownfield incentives for 8-story Spectrum Health development
GRAND RAPIDS — Spectrum Health has filed a Brownfield Plan Amendment for its new Center for Transformation and Innovation, an eight-story office tower planned for the Monroe North neighborhood near downtown Grand Rapids.
TowerPinkster to acquire Indiana-based architectural firm to expand reach
TowerPinkster and Indiana-based Kovert Hawkins Architects Inc. are merging to create a more geographically diverse design firm, the companies announced today.
Tesa Tape launches $36 million expansion at Sparta facility
SPARTA — Adhesive tape manufacturer Tesa Tape Inc. recently started construction on an expanded facility in Sparta, which is expected to bring at least 25 new jobs to the area.