mgreven

I don't fly often but last Friday night at 6pm you could hardly walk through concourse A. I was shocked. Good thing they are expanding it. Thankfully, security was speedy!

I go there occasionally (or past there several times a day). Funny that I was thinking about taking photos the other day but I always think "I'll do that tomorrow." So, I just took photos of Epicurean Village which is really coming along and Lilley Mansion (which was moved and getting a big addition). Windemere House only has signs in the windows so far and Brooklyn Bagels is open and way better than a vacant gas station. Your roving Spring Lake UP reporter, mgreven Lilley Mansion was moved from M104 and getting a big addition for a BNB. The former RV park across the street will be getting a makeover too for public use. Here's the back of Epicurean from our great little local music venue. Lilley Mansion's view of the river. Epicurean Village in context. Lilley Mansion. Epicurean from across M104.

There’s even one in the Smithsonian... Sorry the photo is the wrong way... It's in the Museum of American History exhibit on presidents, FYI.

That's the "Jesus Evangelistic Center" building so you all don't have to Google it. =) That block still doesn't look great so this will help. I wonder if anything will ever happen to the old Duthler's, the old Chase or if the liquor store will ever get cleaned up. There are lots of places to eat and drink - wonder if retail (besides Bridge Street Market) will show up ever.

We went there a couple weeks ago. It was raining so the outside was closed. The inside was very small and the menu was kind of strange. (Chili dogs?) We kind of just wanted to go for drinks and dessert but no dessert. We actually left and went downstairs.

When we stay downtown in a big city, I feel like I'm constantly in a CVS, Walgreens or Duane Reade. It would be hard to visit GR and have to get basics from hotel gift shops. When we were in San Diego at an AirBNB we would practically grocery shop at CVS a block away. I hope we get something soon...

I googled it. Lego sets were the most common result. I doubt that it's a budding made out of Lego's, though. =) Curious...

I wonder if they sold to avoid offers from AB InBev and other big places. Maybe they figured in the hands of a family owned brewery from Spain was the best best if they wanted a partner or to sell out. I’m kinda bummed but would be more bummed if it was AB. I guess when in San Diego I wanted to check out Ballast Point and Stone. Ended up at Stone and on the tour they were very clear that they were independent and mentioned Ballast Point wasn’t anymore. I didn’t really even know that and I feel like I pay attention to that stuff. I’m sure Founder’s fans will still make the trek to GR to see home base and hopefully it stays the same or bigger in GR.

Any news on the Consumers project? Nothing seems to be happening with it yet.

We checked out the whole development with the theater last week. It is amazing. I feel like they got it 100% right. Great addition to Holland. We were there in the afternoon and the theater employees showed us all around since it was pretty quiet.

My dad worked for Daverman, too. I was just asking my mom if he worked in that building (he died in 1978 so I didn’t really know him...) after seeing that brochure. Sounds like he was in the Waters Building.

Starting this fall...curious as to who the ground floor tenant is. At first I read this as a building with 600 parking spaces in it and was thinking "How tall is this going to be?" but then I saw the site plan and realized that's going to be behind this building. Anyway, more cranes ahead! =) https://mibiz.com/sections/real-estate-development/construction-on-msu-medical-innovation-center-in-grand-rapids-to-begin-this-fall?fbclid=IwAR0gieN3NuU15_egpEI4IraNXRSjEWu0l8V2LwjlYFSRRQL9rKZ4sMyD0go

There's a nice video about his life that plays before every show at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium at the Public Museum.

This sounds great - it'll be great to have that space as a public space again. How can he do AirBNB's there? Doesn't the city not allow that unless it's owner occupied?

https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/first-studio-park-businesses-announced/ Looks like yoga and food. Kinda hoping for some shopping/retail.

We went to one at Opry Mills when we were vacationing in Nashville. It was pretty good (and quick). I just remember it had more of a military and veteran theme. Glad to see another vacant building going away up there.

I showed that to my wife last night since her office is on the DASH route. She was like, “Yeah, those go by a lot.” I guess they’re around...

That was on the original Woodland remodel tenant "proposed" list. That's where I first heard of it. I, too, find that location a bit off the beaten path.

Looks so much better. I wish that there was something on the ground floor, though. That would be a perfect spot to add a CVS or Walgreens on part of the ground floor. I think of Prudential Plaza in Chicago that has a CVS (I guess every building in Chicago seems to) and it seems like it would fit in nicely.

That's so funny since I was just thinking the same thing while driving it on Saturday.

Leave it to UP to have the info...it sounded like he sold it in the note but I felt like no one picked that up and no media looked into to who bought it. That seems like a big deal. Hopefully the new owners bought recipes and things won’t change too much. Plus, East Hills isn’t losing a restaurant per se.

Maybe Kingmas was the coolest thing they had seen and now they’ll see Bridge Street Market and make that the model. That would put Orchard Market out of business. Nice people but terribly dated and pricey store with bad produce. I’ll be interested to see how it turns out...just like renderings, it’s easy to draw pretty pictures or dream but until you get it built...

I was told that the Spring Lake developers are looking at the Ada remodel as the goal and similar vision. They would love something like Kingma's too (as would I...) =)

Funny, I was just talking to someone last night who is pretty involved with the project. I thought I had more info to share, but it's basically the same as what the article says. Ready to see some demo this winter! =)

I have always heard burgers and beer with a possible gas station theme. I heard they were slowed down for a while waiting on clean up grant (as it was actually an old gas station) but they have been working - very slowly - on it everyday. It’s looking great, though.