Business changeups in Grand Rapids

[GRDadof3]

There seem to be enough of these going on that I thought it deserved a separate thread.

According to the Business Journal today, Alexander Marketing is moving from their Cascade location to Clark Place in American Seating Park.

http://www.grbj.com/GRBJ/ArticleArchive/20...Clark+Place.htm

Scotland based Georgeson Group has acquired Beta Design Group:

http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/wester...and_rapids.html

Also today, Employment Group has opened a second office in the GR Metro area at 25 Ionia (above Hopcat):

http://www.talentmgt.com/industry_news/200.../3986/index.php

I also believe Grotenhuis Group Insurance is moving from Cascade into the city, but I'm not sure if their location is public yet.

edit: yes, it was mentioned in the Press in October, Grotenhuis opening a 50 person office in Avastar Park:

http://www.mlive.com/business/grpress/inde....xml&coll=6

(technically Walker, but a great reuse of a brownfield)

Anyone know of any changes coming up? (other than True North and Adtegrity moving downtown)

[Yankee Fan]

There seem to be enough of these going on that I thought it deserved a separate thread.

According to the Business Journal today, Alexander Marketing is moving from their Cascade location to Clark Place in American Seating Park.

http://www.grbj.com/GRBJ/ArticleArchive/20...Clark+Place.htm

Scotland based Georgeson Group has acquired Beta Design Group:

http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/wester...and_rapids.html

Also today, Employment Group has opened a second office in the GR Metro area at 25 Ionia (above Hopcat):

http://www.talentmgt.com/industry_news/200.../3986/index.php

I also believe Grotenhuis Group Insurance is moving from Cascade into the city, but I'm not sure if their location is public yet.

edit: yes, it was mentioned in the Press in October, Grotenhuis opening a 50 person office in Avastar Park:

http://www.mlive.com/business/grpress/inde....xml&coll=6

(technically Walker, but a great reuse of a brownfield)

Anyone know of any changes coming up? (other than True North and Adtegrity moving downtown)

[cpgrandrapids]

I know that Context Marketing is moving from Saugatuck to downtown GR in the 44 Grandville building.

Also, Carnevale ID has also relocated in to 44 Grandville from the NW side of GR.

[GRDadof3]

Does anyone know what percentage of 44/56 Grandville is leased? It was last at full capacity when US Xchange built it out.

[jbr12]

I would die for some amenities like that. All I want is a shower, so I can bike to work and actually rinse off and not be nasty for the entire day...

[Prankster]

I think 44 is almost full. CARWM shows about 3000 sf available out of 57700 total. 56 shows 28,000 out of 65,000 available.

44 has a really cool new workout facility and showers in the garden level, available to tenants. That's a great selling point in my book, especially if you run downtown at lunch and need a place to shower and cool down afterward (or do some strength training).

[GRDadof3]

Here's the press release for ContextMG moving from Saugatuck into 44 Grandville downtown, from YankeeFan's earlier post:

http://sev.prnewswire.com/advertising/2009...06012009-1.html

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Context MG, Inc. (Context), formerly Fiaba Creative, has announced that it is moving its corporate headquarters from Saugatuck, MI to Grand Rapids on January 15, 2009. The move brings with it several new professional marketing positions and a new look at measurable marketing solutions for Context's growing list of local, national, and international clientele.

[Yankee Fan]

Here's the press release for ContextMG moving from Saugatuck into 44 Grandville downtown, from YankeeFan's earlier post:

http://sev.prnewswire.com/advertising/2009...06012009-1.html

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Context MG, Inc. (Context), formerly Fiaba Creative, has announced that it is moving its corporate headquarters from Saugatuck, MI to Grand Rapids on January 15, 2009. The move brings with it several new professional marketing positions and a new look at measurable marketing solutions for Context's growing list of local, national, and international clientele.

[jbr12]

Scotland based Georgeson Group has acquired Beta Design Group:

http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/wester...and_rapids.html

[Prankster]

Not sure if this is related, but BETA's offices are available on Rockford's Website:

http://www.rockforddevelopment.com/Brix?pageID=30

[GRDadof3]

That's not good. Hope they still stay in downtown.

[mpchicago]

I can't fathom they would move out of downtown. I was under the impression that the Georgeson Group wasn't going to make any personnel changes.

[jbr12]

They were definitely on the top two floors. The floor plans on Rockford's website are most certainly the office layout of the BETA office. Golscorer? Any news you can share?

[numstead]

They were definitely on the top two floors. The floor plans on Rockford's website are most certainly the office layout of the BETA office. Golscorer? Any news you can share?

[GRDadof3]

Well here's what happens when you move in the opposite direction (downtown to the burbs): bad karma.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ind...and_rapids.html

Why would the IRS spend $300,000 more a year for a lease on the same amount of space, in a down office economy? Seems like they could have found a bargain somewhere (along one of the Rapid routes).

[Kayak1]

I know that this project was in the works for over a year. If I remember, they mandated what the building was going to cost. I also remember that they had zero flexability in the space. It had to layout a specific way or it would not work. You would still think they could have found something a little more condusive to public transportation.

[fotoman311]

Well here's what happens when you move in the opposite direction (downtown to the burbs): bad karma.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ind...and_rapids.html

Why would the IRS spend $300,000 more a year for a lease on the same amount of space, in a down office economy? Seems like they could have found a bargain somewhere (along one of the Rapid routes).

[GRDadof3]

Here's another article back in January, with somewhat of a joke response from the IRS. If they were planning this for a year, why are they just now doing spellcheck on the press release?

And who was the idiot that planned the move right during tax season? The couldn't get a little extension on their old lease?

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ss....xml&coll=6

[Veloise]

That is RIDICULOUS! I'm sure it's a much nicer building, but the location (ESPECIALLY THE LOCATION), the fact that the entire country and gov't should be reducing their budgets, not increasing them, and the way that it was done with no advance public notice are all RIDICULOUS. I think someone should lose their job over the way this choice was made and they way it was done.

[John E]

Well here's what happens when you move in the opposite direction (downtown to the burbs): bad karma.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ind...and_rapids.html

Why would the IRS spend $300,000 more a year for a lease on the same amount of space, in a down office economy? Seems like they could have found a bargain somewhere (along one of the Rapid routes).

[fotoman311]

Just look at who we are talking about...IRS, Government theives and gangsters. They are extremely caring - all they care about is beating down the people and the Constitution. The Government hate the Constitution because it was written to protect the people from a rogue, bully government like the one we have. [/rant]

~John

[GRDadof3]

Just look at who we are talking about...IRS, Government theives and gangsters. They are extremely caring - all they care about is beating down the people and the Constitution. The Government hate the Constitution because it was written to protect the people from a rogue, bully government like the one we have. [/rant]

~John