JW’s Food & Spirits had never offered outdoor seating in the more than two decades the restaurant and bar has been in operation at the corner of North 7th Street and Washington Avenue east of downtown Grand Haven. 

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids City Commission will vote next month on a plan that could allow retail recreational cannabis sales months ahead of schedule.

GRAND RAPIDS — The Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts plans to relocate and sell its building at 2 Fulton St. SW after financially struggling to maintain the facility over the last few months during the COVID-19 pandemic and state shutdown.

GRAND RAPIDS — A youth employment program will launch this summer, employing 1,000 Grand Rapids residents ages 15-21. 

GRAND RAPIDS — The Hinman Co.’s 13-story, 140,000-square-foot hotel located at 10 Ionia Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids is expected to be completed two months later than anticipated because of construction delays stemming from COVID-19.

GRAND RAPIDS — A Colorado firm plans officially to open a 35,000-square-foot medical marijuana production facility next week in Oak Industrial Park, where it is in the process of harvesting its first batch of product.

GRAND RAPIDS — About 100 downtown businesses were damaged after May 30 protests of police brutality, causing an estimated $500,000 in damages for window repair and storefront replacement.

GRAND RAPIDS — A regional plan outlining multimodal transportation projects and funding priorities for the next 25 years in Kent and eastern Ottawa County has been accepted by federal agencies — a necessary step for the region to get federal transportation funding.

GRAND RAPIDS — While restaurants and bars were able to reopen for dine-in service on Monday after a nearly three-month hiatus, some owners are keeping their dining rooms closed a little longer as a safety precaution for customers and employees.

GRAND RAPIDS — A developer is scaling back plans for a mixed-use affordable senior housing project near downtown and is no longer seeking a commercial tenant at the space.

GRAND RAPIDS — A property investment company is suing Amazon.com Services LLC after the online retailer allegedly demolished portions of a warehouse property in Grand Rapids and caused about $10 million in damages before backing out of a lease agreement.

Providing different ways to shop and making customers feel as safe as possible remains the focus for retailers as they gradually work to reopen their stores. 

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority is hitting pause on a task force that is considering the feasibility of building a new convention center hotel and adding a large-scale amphitheater in the city’s downtown. 

GRAND RAPIDS — The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the opening of a coworking space this summer in the historic Harris Building downtown, so the business is pivoting to offer digital memberships. 

GRAND RAPIDS — While most small businesses have been struggling and closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Central District Cyclery has been overwhelmed with business over the last few months.

GAINES TOWNSHIP — A black-owned business south of Grand Rapids was “basically targeted,” owners said today after discovering shattered windows at their restaurant.

GRAND RAPIDS — Recreational marijuana processors, growers and transporters might be allowed in Grand Rapids before the city permits recreational dispensaries to open. 

GRAND RAPIDS — A New York City-based developer has proposed a 240-unit affordable housing complex along Lake Michigan Drive on the city’s west side. 

GRAND RAPIDS — Integrated Architecture LLC is starting construction this week to renovate a 13,600-square-foot building north of downtown into its new headquarters. 

GRAND RAPIDS — Woodland Mall will reopen June 1 with new protocols in place, including limited access and occupancy to comply with state regulations, mall officials announced today.

GRAND RAPIDS — A downtown public restroom set to break ground this week in the Grand Rapids Heartside district is meant to benefit all community members, but will also help address longstanding concerns from neighboring businesses. 

Tension between Grand Rapids residents and the city’s police department spurred officials last year to create an Office of Oversight and Public Accountability. Earlier this month, Brandon Davis — the office’s interim director since August — was appointed to the job on a permanent basis.

GRAND RAPIDS — The Grand Rapids City Commission passed a $531 million budget Thursday for fiscal year 2021, which includes $5.4 million in economic relief funding for residents and businesses.

As northern Michigan restaurants and bars reopen under occupancy limits and other restrictions, business leaders and city officials are considering ways to expand the footprint of existing restaurants to help boost revenue.

The Michigan Strategic Fund approved financing today for a range of economic development initiatives, including brownfield tax incentives for a major mixed-use project in Lansing and public improvements in Cass County.

GRANT — C3 Industries LLC expects to start selling recreational cannabis products Friday at its newly opened medical marijuana dispensary in southern Newaygo County.