In any downtown, the business scene is always changing, some businesses coming, some going, some expanding.
And in Grosse Pointe, where locals joke about things always staying the same, the Village business district is no exception.
It can be, however, a confusing one with business plans that seem certain not being that way at all. Such is the case with two of the largest vacancies in Grosse Pointe's Village downtown business district.
One space, a former Ace Hardware on Kercheval at St. Clair, was supposed to be taken over by another hardware store, but those plans are off, and the building owners are looking for two retailers to move into the large spot, which has been divided into 18,000 and 11,000 square-foot spaces.
"The building can facilitate two big-box users or divide one or both buildings into smaller units. Current demand for retail is 750 to 2,000 square feet, with not much demand for 2,000," says Jennifer Boettcher, director of the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce. "The landlords want to make sure they make they have the right tenants for the community because the tenants will most likely be there for the next 20 years."
Next door to the former is the vacant Borders bookstore, which closed three years ago. A plan for St. John to open a medical office in the back half and rent the front for retail is postponed after the city rejected the project for not having the amount of retail space called for by zoning laws.
While that city block sits empty, an opposite corner on Kercheval is taking shape as a new French bistro and lounge called Marais will take over two storefronts. Marais is scheduled to open in September, Boettcher says. And across the street, a few blocks down the long-awaited expanded bar area at City Kitchen will also open in September.
Across Kercheval Avenue, the nearly 30-year-old Village Toy Store, a local and metro Detroit "Best Of" winner numerous times, is leaving the toy business and moving next door to start El's, which will stock room decor, clothing, jewelry, accessories and speciality items for teen and tween girls, a desirable retail demographic.
It will swap spots with ultra preppy clothier - mostly Lilly Pulitzer designs - the Village Palm.
Down the street, two new and very different hair salons, the chain Great Clips and Euro-inspired Chez Lou Lou, are co-existing while the Grosse Pointe Downtown Development Authority has hired two marketing pros to figure out how to lure retailers and also visitors with special events and other projects and changes to the Village.
In preparation for positive changes that might come, the city is re-doing the largest parking lot in the downtown. It will become a gated lot instead of metered parking.
Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Jennifer Boettcher, Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce
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