Uptown Village

[Nitro]

Yes it's a sneaker store. Yes they could use signage. Yes the security gate is probably a good idea though it seems like it sometimes doesn't get pulled back all the way during business hours.

[GRDadof3]

Hmmm. A sneaker store as a front for other illicit activities?

[wingbert]

Hmmm. A sneaker store as a front for other illicit activities?

[EastownLeo]

I saw that the space was cleared out. There was always a really expensive Mercedes sitting outside.

[Avocado]

I think this thread contains a few clues to at least some of what was going on there...

As for good news; the largest of the three retail spaces has had quite a bit of activity the last few days, getting it ready for the new tennant.

[Veloise]

We witnessed what appeared to be a raid by the City of Grand Rapids police on the sneaker store the other day. They meant business too, came armed with bolt cutters and a door ramming device to break the storefront glass to get in. They went around back of the building and I think someone from Lighthouse let them in a back door. ...

[twoshort]

In trying to figure out what was going on there a while back ( couldn't figure out how that store generated the income for the CLS500 and the Escalade) I stumbled upon some websites that seemed to indicate they were also selling some unlocked iPhones online. Is that legal?

And no, I didn't report it to GRPD or anyone else. I'm just a curious neighbor.

[twoshort]

Here's the link: http://www.ioffer.com/offer_transactions/show/2509376

The phone number coincides with the number for the store, Exclusive Gear, found in this PDF:

http://www.neighborhoodventures.org/docs/n...ctober_2008.pdf

[Ted]

good thing they had those gates on their windows to protect them from getting jacked...

[GRDadof3]

good thing they had those gates on their windows to protect them from getting jacked...

[ModSquad]

In trying to figure out what was going on there a while back ( couldn't figure out how that store generated the income for the CLS500 and the Escalade)

[twoshort]

I guess i was just pointing out what sparked my interest.

[ModSquad]

I guess i was just pointing out what sparked my interest.

[Nitro]

A strange twist to this whole deal. They appear to have restocked the store after unloading it a few days ago. I can't figure out what's going on over there.

[ModSquad]

A strange twist to this whole deal. They appear to have restocked the store after unloading it a few days ago. I can't figure out what's going on over there.

[GR_Urbanist]

Just drove past the new beauty supply store today!

Maybe I need a second drive by, because at this point I'm just praying that the next step on Wealthy isnt the payday loan or the cell phone shop. The place just looked a little tacky.

But I guess it could be worse.

[twoshort]

It does kind of look like they'd sell ringtones too. There's a lot of fake hair, that's for sure.

[suydam]

It's shady looking for sure. I'm actually dissapointed. Wing Heaven seems like a great tennant... "Wigs, fake hair, and bars-in-windows" is not nearly as inviting.

Compare that with nearly every other new business along Wealthy in the past 3 years (A-1 Nails, Wing Heaven, Winchester, Fusion Salon, etc) and it's easily the tackiest business in the bunch.

[Nitro]

It's shady looking for sure. I'm actually dissapointed. Wing Heaven seems like a great tennant... "Wigs, fake hair, and bars-in-windows" is not nearly as inviting.

[Ted]

Some of their signage advertises that they sell Drawstring wigs. I can't even fathom what that would be. The only mental picture I get is like a pair of mini-blinds.

[Nitro]

Aren't wigs required for dinner service on your cruise?

[twoshort]

It's shady looking for sure. I'm actually dissapointed. Wing Heaven seems like a great tennant... "Wigs, fake hair, and bars-in-windows" is not nearly as inviting.

Compare that with nearly every other new business along Wealthy in the past 3 years (A-1 Nails, Wing Heaven, Winchester, Fusion Salon, etc) and it's easily the tackiest business in the bunch.

[Ted]

Powdered wigs. But I don't think they have any of those across the street.

[joeDowntown]

Are they really that concerned about people looting wigs?

Have you been in to check...?

You might be surprised...

[ModSquad]

I have tried real hard to not respond to the recent comments on this issue, but I can no longer resist.

I find many of these comments about this new business very judgmental and quite frankly paternalistic. The neighborhood around this new business is still VERY VERY predominately African American. Access to the type of products this store carries are very important to the majority of the residents of this neighborhood.

Do any of you making these comments have any idea of the cultural importance of the wide variety of hair care products have to the majority of residents of this neighborhood. Prior to the opening of this store many of the residents of the Baxter-Uptown neighborhood had to leave the neighborhood to find their hair care needs. Now they can walk to the store in their neighborhood.

How is this any different than the relentless comments made on threads related to the central city from folks looking for upscale restaurants, grocery stores, and other type bourgeois retail establishments that meet your needs?

I find the comments about pay day loan services very offensive. There is nothing more predatory than pay day loan services, or rent to own businesses. First of all Lighthouse would never lease to one of these type of establishments. Additionally, there is no comparison between between this establishment and despicable companies that prey on lower income folks.

It is starting to seem to me that the "gentry" in beginning to gain its voice in the Wealthy Business District.