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The State of Downtown Grand Rapids Retail

GRDadof3

By GRDadof3
in Grand Rapids

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RiversideGR
RiversideGR

Something cool that I didn’t see in the Crains article but woodtv picked up: “The company adds they are collaborating with the city to install a clock near the intersection at Monroe Center Stree

EastownLeo
EastownLeo

Yes, they are giving a valid reason for the failure of the business, at least to some, but the backlash is also there because they are giving a reason for closing while ignoring their own faults.  Pas

elcelc
elcelc

Since this place seems less hostile, hyperbolic and knee-jerky than every other site on the entire internet, I'll throw my 2 cents here. Original Propaganda owner: Kudos to your concept and produ

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gymguy2k Unincorporated Area

gymguy2k

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I merged a couple of similar topics together (retail discussion with Mad Cap, etc.).

According to the Press today, there's a new 3000 sf Cafe Kabob coming to 80 Ottawa (Aldrich Building/Van Hoeks).

I also noticed while ice-skating yesterday that there is a new fitness center in the space next to Subway in the Founders building.

Refresh my memory. Where is the Founders Building and is it a new gym? I'd like a new gym DT. Is it the Curves (or similar thing) I saw? Thanks.

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Veloise City

Veloise

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Refresh my memory. Where is the Founders Building and is it a new gym? I'd like a new gym DT. Is it the Curves (or similar thing) I saw? Thanks.

From the signage, I got the impresion that it's similar to a Curves (which is further up Monroe Center, next to Local Mocha). The Subway has a big huge sign, if that helps. On Monroe between Pearl and Fulton. If you're at RPC standing on the grassy knoll near the steam feature, look west.

Oh heck, here you go:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&...1&encType=1

Taken during its facade-ectomy a few years back.

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Veloise City

Veloise

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This is definately going on the first floor corner in the space VanHoeks moved out of. I think Bernie is quite happy with his location and afaik is not going anywhere. Which is good because I love Big O's too!

Adding another restaurant to an established corner is a good thing, kindof like the Chipotle/Quodoba scenario. You can't be a food court by yourself.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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This is definately going on the first floor corner in the space VanHoeks moved out of. I think Bernie is quite happy with his location and afaik is not going anywhere. Which is good because I love Big O's too!

Great news! Having those two corners occupied again is key to Monroe Center's vitality, IMO. And if someone moves into Herkner's as mentioned by Locus, and if someone goes into the City Market space as alluded by someone in another thread(?), the place is filling up again.

It's weird, but I don't see the old Van Hoek's space on the corner being 3000 sf. Maybe it goes back into storage space or something, that Kabob's plans to use (?)

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fotoman311 Burg

fotoman311

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Great news! Having those two corners occupied again is key to Monroe Center's vitality, IMO. And if someone moves into Herkner's as mentioned by Locus, and if someone goes into the City Market space as alluded by someone in another thread(?), the place is filling up again.

It's weird, but I don't see the old Van Hoek's space on the corner being 3000 sf. Maybe it goes back into storage space or something, that Kabob's plans to use (?)

Amy and I were walking home from Soup's on For All last night (GREAT event, btw) and we were looking at the two spaces and after contemplating, decided that the Van Hoek's space was much larger and there was no way that the Big O's space was 3000 sq. ft. I'm also happy to see these places fill up and that there will be a place to get hummous downtown again. Hopefully they will be open for dinner.

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Prankster Burg

Prankster

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Great news! Having those two corners occupied again is key to Monroe Center's vitality, IMO. And if someone moves into Herkner's as mentioned by Locus, and if someone goes into the City Market space as alluded by someone in another thread(?), the place is filling up again.

Hopefully they will be business that completes the food court, aka Monroe Center.

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suydam Hamlet

suydam

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I merged a couple of similar topics together (retail discussion with Mad Cap, etc.).

According to the Press today, there's a new 3000 sf Cafe Kabob coming to 80 Ottawa (Aldrich Building/Van Hoeks).

I also noticed while ice-skating yesterday that there is a new fitness center in the space next to Subway in the Founders building.

That link to Cafe Kabob points to a single-location restaurant in Detroit.

Any idea if it's the same owner?

I'd love to see some more of the family-owned Detroit standbys show up on our side of the state.

I grew up over there and miss Kerby's Koney, La Fendi and a few other Detroit originals.

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fotoman311 Burg

fotoman311

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That link to Cafe Kabob points to a single-location restaurant in Detroit.

Any idea if it's the same owner?

I'd love to see some more of the family-owned Detroit standbys show up on our side of the state.

I grew up over there and miss Kerby's Koney, La Fendi and a few other Detroit originals.

While I guess it's possible it's a franchise, I would be much more inclined to think it's the same owner.

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GRDadof3 Ecumenopolis

GRDadof3

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That link to Cafe Kabob points to a single-location restaurant in Detroit.

Any idea if it's the same owner?

I'd love to see some more of the family-owned Detroit standbys show up on our side of the state.

I grew up over there and miss Kerby's Koney, La Fendi and a few other Detroit originals.

The article Veloise posted says they are out of Southfield, and it has the same link I posted. The whole article is about the Aldrich Building being sold to a group of investors, one being First Companies locally and the others being a couple of guys from Lansing. I wondered when First Companies was going to enter the downtown market.

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fotoman311 Burg

fotoman311

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MadCap Coffee is now offering bicycle delivery of coffee ordered through their website. It's advertised as anywhere within the City of Grand Rapids proper, and you'll pay a $2 delivery charge for the service.

You can find more information here: http://www.pedalgr.com/2009/01/31/madcap-coffee-by-velo/

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