Suburban Projects

[mgreven]

Then there's the Lakes Mall in Muskegon...already a lot of vacancies and lots of local type store (second hand, comics, vape shops).  That Younkers was supposed to stay but with that, Sears and JCP as the anchors  it could get worse really quickly.  Not even 20 years after it was brand new and took a bunch of stores out of Muskegon and into Norton Shores/Fruitport.

[GRLaker]

34 minutes ago, jthrasher said:

I have been thinking the same thing.  I was there a few weeks ago, first time in a long time and the end of the mall where Macy's and Old Navy are was completely dead.  There was a drastic difference between that end and the other end where Yonkers/ Dicks is.   Years ago when I worked at Pottery Barn, when it was still there, it was kinda the same way though.  That end of the Mall has always seemed less busy.  I wouldn't be surprised to see major troubles at Rivertown in the next 3-5 years. 

Well when Sleeping Tiger, Oriental Imports (or whatever it's called), FYE, and the Shoe Dept. are the stores in that area, it's not surprising to see low traffic in that area. Plus there are two empty storefronts down there on the upper level and four on the lower level. Rivertown struggles to get retail stores that people actually want to go to, where as Woodland doesn't seem to have that problem at all anymore.

[Pattmost20]

55 minutes ago, GRLaker said:

Well when Sleeping Tiger, Oriental Imports (or whatever it's called), FYE, and the Shoe Dept. are the stores in that area, it's not surprising to see low traffic in that area. Plus there are two empty storefronts down there on the upper level and four on the lower level. Rivertown struggles to get retail stores that people actually want to go to, where as Woodland doesn't seem to have that problem at all anymore.

I work across the street from the Rivertown Mall, stopped in once in the last year on my lunch break and immediately regretted it. Kind of has a depressing feel to it.

[arcturus]

Once the castle opens 2 miles away it should help.  

[WMrapids]

2 hours ago, arcturus said:

Once the castle opens 2 miles away it should help.  

Replace Younkers with an indoor jousting arena...

[Allison Slater]

Well with the cockroaches in the food court...

Rivertown is getting an arcade again but from what I hear it didn't sound very impressive at all, and with Dave & Buster's by Woodland...

Woodland just beats Rivertown in everything, I think.

[GRDadof3]

On 4/17/2018 at 12:05 PM, Sparty97 said:

RE: Knapp's corner - That makes a few empty restaurants on that corner with Bagger Dave's and Menchie's closing recently.   I'll be curious to see if Potbelly and Freshii make it much longer.  They never seem busy when I am over there.  

Is the "Building D", where Bar Louie is slated to go, being built right now?  Can't tell what all is being constructed over there...

I was thinking about this the other day while stuck in that traffic crunch on the East Beltline yesterday. Here's the restaurant lineup and just "places where you can eat" for that 2 - 3 mile stretch of road:

Gravity 

Gus's - don't know how that place stays open with no liquor license

Red Hot Inn - an institution not going anywhere

Priority Health has a large cafe/cafeteria for employees

Fuji Yama 

Twisted Rooster 

Kitchen 67 

Applebees 

Zesty Gyros

El Burrito Loco 

Thai Chef

Wendy's

Golden Wok

Meijer food court (suprisingly busy a lot)

Licari's (at Celadon)

Panera

Buffalo Wild Wings

Ming Ten

Firehouse Subs

IHOP

The Melting Pot

Herb and Fire Pizzeria

Oscar's (in Celebration Cinema)

Jimmy Johns

Shescho

Chilis - closed

Hopcat - coming soon

Subway

Qdoba

Jaku North

Noodles & Co

Pieology

Potbelly

Freshi - closed

D&W cafe

PF Changs

Bravo 

Bar Louie - coming soon

Bagger Dave's - closed

Brandywine

Robinette's

Probably more restaurants per capita in that Northeast area than anywhere else in the entire metro area. 

[Sparty97]

Speaking of restaurants near that corner, another restaurant is planned for this fall.  Bonchon Chicken (Bonchon is an international chain known for its Korean fried chicken and wings.)

http://www.grbj.com/articles/90513-south-korean-restaurant-chain-entering-west-michigan-market?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&[email protected]&utm_content=2732%3A%20GRBJ%20Daily%3A%20Holding%20company%20shutting%20down%20fu&utm_campaign=GRBJ%20Daily%3A%20Holding%20company%20shutting%20down%20furniture%20brand
 

Edited April 24, 2018 by Sparty97

[getemngo]

The Chili's on 28th near Patterson also closed, leaving 54th & Clyde Park as the only remaining location in the area.

And in hotel news, something is being built behind the AMC/Star on Alpine - to be specific, it's on the lot surrounded by Holiday Inn Express, SpringHill Suites, and the former University of Phoenix. I didn't see any signage identifying the brand. We've talked before about how almost no new hotels are being built in the northern suburbs despite the explosion to the south (and downtown).

Edited April 25, 2018 by getemngo

[Pattmost20]

16 hours ago, Sparty97 said:

Speaking of restaurants near that corner, another restaurant is planned for this fall.  Bonchon Chicken (Bonchon is an international chain known for its Korean fried chicken and wings.)

http://www.grbj.com/articles/90513-south-korean-restaurant-chain-entering-west-michigan-market?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&[email protected]&utm_content=2732%3A%20GRBJ%20Daily%3A%20Holding%20company%20shutting%20down%20fu&utm_campaign=GRBJ%20Daily%3A%20Holding%20company%20shutting%20down%20furniture%20brand
 

That is actually a huge get for GR. Outside of California and the New York/Philly/DC region there are only a handful. In the Midwest, Chicago has 3 and Cleveland has 1.

[mgreven]

11 minutes ago, Pattmost20 said:

That is actually a huge get for GR. Outside of California and the New York/Philly/DC region there are only a handful. In the Midwest, Chicago has 3 and Cleveland has 1.

Cool.  I know the couple who are bringing the franchise here.  Really great people - I hope it does really well for them!

[thebeerqueer]

https://mibiz.com/news/real-estate/item/25771-fate-of-rivertown-crossings-reflective-of-broader-retail-uncertainty

 

 

[GRDadof3]

Anyone know what brand the hotel is being built by the Cascade Meijer? They're packing a lot of hotels into that area. 

[WMrapids]

On 5/2/2018 at 10:53 AM, thebeerqueer said:

https://mibiz.com/news/real-estate/item/25771-fate-of-rivertown-crossings-reflective-of-broader-retail-uncertainty

 

 

So what happens if Rivertown closes? It’s a lot bigger than Rogers Plaza was in Wyoming. Is it a win for Woodland or will we see something new pop up maybe near Tanger?

[mpchicago]

22 hours ago, GRDadof3 said:

Anyone know what brand the hotel is being built by the Cascade Meijer? They're packing a lot of hotels into that area. 

I know that Pel Construction was building a replacement Holiday Inn Express just to the north the current Holiday Inn Express, and Pel was building a TownePlace Suites by Marriott just to the west of the Meijer.  Not sure if there was any other activity.  Did anyone pick up the old Macaroni Grill? 

[MJLO]

I think it's a bit premature to start speaking the demise of Rivertown.  One Anchor is closing (a redundant one at that),  I'm honestly surprised it took even that long for Younkers to close.  It's not as if the mall is at 50% occupancy.  The best thing that could happen to Rivertown would be for GGP to stop using it as a cash cow and sell it.   It's clear that GGP is going the way of  Sears and has stopped investing in its properties.   If any buyer came along and invested just a little bit in that mall this conversation would be very different. 

16 hours ago, WMrapids said:

So what happens if Rivertown closes? It’s a lot bigger than Rogers Plaza was in Wyoming. Is it a win for Woodland or will we see something new pop up maybe near Tanger?

 

[mpchicago]

16 hours ago, WMrapids said:

So what happens if Rivertown closes? It’s a lot bigger than Rogers Plaza was in Wyoming. Is it a win for Woodland or will we see something new pop up maybe near Tanger?

This is the second article in the last several months from MiBiz that talks about concerns at Rivertown Crossings.   I know that they just spent some $$$ to freshen things up a bit.  I suppose if Younkers, JC Penning and Sears, and even Macy's closed it could be a problem, but JC Penny and Macy's are also at Woodland. 

 

[arcturus]

Here's what's going in at the former Sears location in Tucson - http://tucson.com/business/japanese-eatertainment-venue-opening-in-sears-space-at-tucson-s/article_8940c74b-d43e-563e-a1d7-3e4c03154201.html

[GR8scott]

I could see Dillard’s buys some assets and doing well in rivertown 

[joeDowntown]

Personally, I think Tivertown would be fine if it lost an anchor. I could see the potential for getting creative. 2 tenants, one up, one down. Or they could split it even more with a restaurant or two on the bottom floor, plus a tenant, etc. I think entertainment could be a big reuse as well (a Dave and Busters/ Lucky strike type operation). 

They may need to get creative (like Woodland has been doing), but it’s a well maintained property in a high growth area (plus we live in the Midwest, and the weather stinks many months out of the year). 

Joe

 

12 hours ago, MJLO said:

I think it's a bit premature to start speaking the demise of Rivertown.  One Anchor is closing (a redundant one at that),  I'm honestly surprised it took even that long for Younkers to close.  It's not as if the mall is at 50% occupancy.  The best thing that could happen to Rivertown would be for GGP to stop using it as a cash cow and sell it.   It's clear that GGP is going the way of  Sears and has stopped investing in its properties.   If any buyer came along and invested just a little bit in that mall this conversation would be very different. 

 

GGP IS selling Rivertown. They announced it about a month ago. 

Joe

[WMrapids]

Yeah, my post was meant to be hypothetical. I don’t see anything happening too soon in that area, especially with all of the new investment around there (Cabela’s, Duluth, etc.)

[GRLaker]

Does the Right Place get involved much in retail? I would imagine that it would be in the best interest of the Grand Rapids Metro Area for Rivertown to be successful. To have a large two story mall sit empty would be an eyesore and a roadblock for further growth around it.  I would think they would want to dedicate some resources to work with GGP/Brookfield to get new and large tenants to fill these spaces.

[Allison Slater]

If it does go empty, conversion to apartments and condos could help with the housing situation. It wouldn't be the first mall-to-residential conversion.

[GRDadof3]

On 5/7/2018 at 8:43 AM, mpchicago said:

I know that Pel Construction was building a replacement Holiday Inn Express just to the north the current Holiday Inn Express, and Pel was building a TownePlace Suites by Marriott just to the west of the Meijer.  Not sure if there was any other activity.  Did anyone pick up the old Macaroni Grill? 

It's gotta be a TownePlace Suites, looks like the one being built in Wyoming.  It is just to the West of Meijer. Haven't seen any activity at Macaroni Grill yet. 

[GRDadof3]

Took a long 25 mile bike ride out past Knapp's Corner and into the belly of Ada and Ada Township this weekend. I haven't done one of these photo essays in a while, what a lot of work!

Here's one of the new collections of retail buildings at Knapp's Corner. You can see the reconfigured street leading over to D&W:

 

Kudos for the bike racks and string lights I guess.  To the left I believe was slated to be a Bar Louie:

 

New Hopcat across the road:

 

Only 10 minutes away (by bike) you're out in the country.  One of the things I love about this area. One of my favorite stretches to bike, along Michigan St. 

 

 

On Grand River Drive, Roselle Park's relatively new community center:

 

Grand River Drive non-motorized path:

 

Lots of sculptures out in these parts. 

 

I love this farmhouse/preschool. If you look closely you can see a goat on the bridge:

 

 

Amway re-did their landscaping and added a new bike trail in this section from Grand River to Bronson a few years ago. 

 

But it sadly end at Bronson and you have to risk your life to try and pick it up again about a half mile down Fulton (and it's a janky section at that point until the Fulton bridge). They are building a non-motorized path on the other side of Fulton near the gas station, wondering if that's how they're going to link them?

 

This is the gas station and body shop that replaced that old disgusting one. And McDonalds moved from the strip mall out to here and has a drive through now. Pretty swank for a suburban operation. They could really uses a bike rack or two here:

 

Spectrum Health has a new clinic just East of here on the other corner:

 

Behind McDonalds and the gas station is a new "EGR-ish" new home neighborhood going in. Prices range in the $550's. Quite a few sold signs already.

 

 

Behind this project on Bronson, they're adding on to the Ada Averill Museum:

 

 

As Grand Rapids 2nd most "toniest" suburb after EGR, they're definitely setting the architectural dial at "modern country."

 

The new location for the Ada Community Center:

 

Now the new downtown starts (sorry some of them are blurry, may have been sweaty hands).

 

I like the Italian-styled balconies on these. 

The new Gravel Bottom looks inviting:

Nice architectural details:

Seating outside of Kingma's Market:

 

This building will be just to the South of the Western end of the Kingma's section of retail, if that makes sense. It will run North-south.

 

This building further along is just to the South of that. I guess it's probably where the parking lot for Gravel Bottom was?  This is apparently the new building for Zeytin's. 

 

Across the street is the sad but not so sad remains of the strip mall:

The old schoolhouse, slated to be an ice cream shop I believe. I think it's the one that Candy (?) Devos is opening? Behind it is the new riverfront park and boardwalk.

 

Snowmelt!

 

 

New restroom building for the park
 

 

 

Looking Northwest from the (now) back corner of the new downtown. 

 

Heading west down that new street, now looking at the back of the stripmall and Zeytins current location.

 

Back to the old section. They should rename this part "Old Town" and make it the "keep Ada weird" part of Ada, anchored by the bike shop. 

 

Up the hill from "Old Town Ada" is an interesting new development called Riverpoint, that overlooks the Ada dam from a dramatic hillside site. Townhomes and homes. 

 

This is looking West up the hill toward that old school that was remade into condos and offices:

 

Some amazing site work to make this project happen:

 

 

The setting and views of the dam are worth the $600K+ price tag.

 

The kayakers out on Thornapple River made it seem other-worldly (Traverse City-like)

 

The pics don't do it justice:

 

Across the road are new homes going in designed by J Peterson (EGR fame)

 

And that's my Ada essay, complete without any political commentary.

 

Settlers Grove riverfront park site plan:

http://adamichigan.org/uploads/village/Settlers-Park-Site-Plan.pdf