Michigan Street Rite Aid and Red Geranium Closing

[CK1]

A small blub on page 2 of Friday's GR Press (didn't seem to show up on the internet MLIVE site) stated that the Rite Aid on Michigan Ave. is shutting down, and will permanently close its doors later this summer.

I can't imagine that place NOT making a pretty penny...the place always seemed to have people going in and out of its doors, and with all the meds being prescribed right next door... Is this a case of a landlord not renewing a lease so the property can be redeveloped into something more profitable? I think that area needs a drug store, but having one in the ground floor of a multi-story building would make more sense than a stand-alone operation.

[oakesLife]

I have a retail marketing specialist friend who mentioned to me a year ago not to be surprised if the whole company goes out of business. Something about the CEO making bad decisions and taking the company into debt while refusing to make changes to the in-store retail experience. Maybe this is Rite-Aid cutting it's losses from the corporate level.

[snoogit]

I too think this has more to do with Rite-Aid kicking the bucket, and less to do with the Michigan store being its worst performer.

[vandertown]

Maybe it was a matter of loosing their lease? I'm wondering since The Red Geranium & Rite Aid have left that building, maybe there are other plans in the works for that corner??

[Michi]

Could it also have something to do with the trouble that many businesses face during heavy construction periods? A lot of businesses suffer big blows when it is difficult to access them when streets are torn up or blocked off due to road work or other forms of construction.

[MJLO]

As a former patron of that Rite Aid, ( I lived in that area for a few years). I can say they most likely had high rent, High theft, and poor service. It was probabally nowhere near as profitable as it looked with people in and out. Not to mention that everything in there costs at least a dollar more.

[CK1]

I think a little pharmacy / convenience store is perfect for that location; however, but up a 5-6 story midrise with retail / restaurant on the first and second floors with residential above that (plenty of office already going in that area).

There's only so much developers can do at one time in that area, and I'm sure there's folks out there already working on changing that property around.

[GrSportsGuy]

It was also awful getting in and out of that tiny parking lot.

[suydam]

The Rite Aid at Michigan always seemed so dirty and messy to me. The Walgreen's just a mile further down Michigan is a much nicer store.

Sadly (for me at least) the Rite Aid in Gaslight Village isn't much better. It's old, damp smelling, always out of stuff, dark and I have found myself just going to D&W instead for stuff that I'd normally rather just waltz into Rite Aid to pickup (a 20oz pop, prescriptions, etc).

The good news for the Michigan St. location is the level of development going on right there, right now, is sure to result in something else showing up quickly when that building is vacated.

[GRDadof3]

Red Geranium Cafe to close on Michigan

...with no plans to open a downtown location in the immediate future. I thought they were supposed to go into the MidTowne Village development?

It sounds like Jade Pig, which owns the Red Geranium/Rite Aid property, is contemplating redeveloping the site.

[bwindi25]

The Double-Edged Sword of Michigan Street strikes again! The great regional economic development engine cranks away but it consistently forces local businesses to close their doors.

It's sad to see another great local business get relocated to the burbs. But we still have McDonalds...tick-tock-tick-tock

Thank God that Urban Mill and It's a Grind are moving in east of College.

[e49418]

I saw a "coming soon" sign for Red Geranium at the Bayberry Marketplace on Byron Center, across from the Metro Health Village.

I guess they're moving from one hospital to another!

[GRDadof3]

The Double-Edged Sword of Michigan Street strikes again! The great regional economic development engine cranks away but it consistently forces local businesses to close their doors.

It's sad to see another great local business get relocated to the burbs. But we still have McDonalds...tick-tock-tick-tock

Thank God that Urban Mill and It's a Grind are moving in east of College.

[mpchicago]

They were taking down the McDonald's sign on Michigan today. (maybe just for cleaning?)

[DJL3CDP]

I thought they were supposed to go into the Mid Towne Village development?

[Rhino6885]

They were...Jim signed a lease with us and then asked us to be let out of it. We obliged. We then signed a lease with the Omlett Shoppe. Yes, you heard it here first, another UP scoop. They will open in October.

DJL

[highwayguy]

Cool. They're local, aren't they? I know they have one in Traverse City and own Sundance Grill as well.

[Nitro]

Cool. They're local, aren't they? I know they have one in Traverse City and own Sundance Grill as well.

[suydam]

Yes they are local. Restaurant Partners owned by Jeff Lobdell has the Omlette Shoppe, Sundance Grill, all of the Bagel Beaneries, and the Beltline Bar.