Development News

An upscale women’s boutique is the newest business to set up shop in downtown Zeeland. Hudsonville resident Elizabeth Fetkenhour started Bella Donna Boutique “with a loan and a prayer” and a vision for providing affordable high-end fashions for women of all ages.

Fetkenhour chose downtown Zeeland because she likes the atmosphere and she says the storefronts are reasonably priced. Bella Donna Boutique opened Sept. 15 in a 130-year-old building at 139 E. Main St., formerly the stained-glass gallery Silver Fox.

“It’s a pretty building,” Fetkenhour says. “Between my husband and I and our kids, we gutted it and restored the original wood floors. There were five layers (of flooring) over the wood, but I was determined.”

The white tin ceiling adds to the elegance of the store and Fetkenhour calls the atmosphere warm and inviting. She is trying to stay within a $50,000 investment and has saved on initial expenses by cutting labor costs through a do-it-yourself effort.
 
“We put a lot of money and sweat into fixing it up,” she says.

Fetkenhour says the renovated 1,100-square-foot space provides an ideal backdrop for the upscale clothing offered at Bella Donna Boutique.

“I offer quality clothes at reasonable prices,” she says, adding that simple and classic styles can be hard to find at affordable prices. She carries dresses and clothing for all ages, with a variety of accessories and locally-made jewelry that appeal to both younger and older women.

The shop features designer fashions, like Covet, which includes items made from cashmere and bamboo, as well as luxurious alpaca wool and silk wraps -- one of Fetkenhour’s favorite items,.

Bella Donna Boutique’s grand opening is Saturday, Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Source: Elizabeth Fetkenhour, Bella Donna Boutique

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.
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As part of a series, Rapid Growth is speaking with nominees of several "best of" categories of the 20th Annual Neighborhood Business Awards, a partnership between Neighborhood Ventures and the Neighborhood Business Alliance that honors businesses across the city that have added to the quality of life in their locales.

Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Ali's Diner
When Wanda Smigiel's job at Steelcase dissolved after 17 years, she had no idea she would draw on the hotel/restaurant management degree she'd earned from Grand Rapids Community College in the 80s. But in 2002, she bought Ali's Diner, 735 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids – a longtime neighborhood fixture.

"Ali (Smidi) taught me the business after I bought it from him and I tried not to change it too much," Smigiel says. "I had a lot of crazy ideas that would have wasted a lot of money and he saved me from doing that."

The diner serves breakfast all day, burgers and baskets, and weekday soup, lunch and dessert specials.

"At least 80 percent of my customers are regulars," says Smigiel. "Some are customers from back in Ali's days."

Smigiel says a restaurant of some type has occupied the property for about 70 years – Ali's Diner has been there for the last 30.

"My retirement is riding on this," she says. "I'm fortunate that I've been able to stay profitable in a restaurant for eight years now when the failure rate is so high. Taking over an existing business was really the key for me."

Other nominees are:

• Brick Road Pizza, 1017 Wealthy SE
• Cherry Deli, 834 Cherry St. SE
• El Sombrero, 527 Bridge St. NW
• Garibaldi Restaurant, 1627 S. Division
• Grand Coney, 809 Michigan St. NE
• Kopper Top, 638 Stocking
• Marie Catrib's, 1001 Lake Drive
• Real Food Café, 2419 Eastern Avenue
  
• Sazarac Lounge, 1418 Plainfield Avenue NE
• Taquitos Mexican Grill, 327 S. Division
• Wolfgang's, 1530 Wealthy SE
• Yesterdog, 1505 Wealthy SE

Best Longstanding Business: Freewheeler Bike Shop
Right after high school Gordy Bryan founded Freewheeler Bike Shop at 915 W. Leonard and now 31 years later he reports that 2009 is the best year he's ever had.

"I said I'm going to quit a hundred times," he says. "But I've sold 2,600 bikes this year. I guess I'm lucky."

Most of those bikes are custom BMX racing bikes that the shop builds from scratch. Others are "mountain bikes, road bikes, kids' bikes and mom and dad bikes," Bryan says.

He adds that when gas prices were high a couple of years ago he saw more customers buying bikes to commute to work. But this year he thinks the increased sales might be because biking is "cheap exercise. Folks can't afford to do this or that with the family, so let's take the family on a bike ride," Bryan says.

Freewheeler sells new and used bikes and offers bike repair. Bryan says prices range from $200 up to $5,000.

Other nominees are:

• Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries, Inc., 937 Michigan NE
• Baribeau's Jewelry Hospital, 953 E. Fulton
• Choo Choo Grill, 1209 Plainfield Avenue NE
• Duke's Bar, 700 Michigan NE
• Elbow Room Bar & Grill, 501 Fuller Avenue NE
• Gallery 154, 1456 Lake Dr. SE
• Lady Love By James Price, 1117 Wealthy SE
• Nawara Brothers Appliance, TV & Bedding, 1030 W. Fulton
• Rocky's Bar & Grill, 633 Ottawa Avenue NW
• Russ' Garage, 801 Butterworth SW
• Stone's Throw, 1428 Plainfield Avenue

Stay tuned to Rapid Growth for our online voting where you can vote for your favorite businesses. Those with the most online votes will receive a People's Choice Award sponsored by Rapid Growth.

The awards ceremony on November 5 is from 5 to 8 p.m. at Wealthy Theatre. The public is invited.

Source: Wanda Smigiel, Ali's Diner; Gordy Bryan, Freewheeler Bike Shop

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.


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Stephanie Johnson's experience as store manager for two Banana Republics, a Nine West store and a Home Fabrics shop gave her a desire to be the mistress of her own domain. She will make that dream come true on October 24 when she opens Urban Exchange, an upscale women's consignment shop at 926 E. Fulton, Grand Rapids.

The 1,200-square-foot store occupies the former Baribeau's Jewelry Hospital which relocated across the street. Urban Exchange will offer gently used clothing, shoes and accessories.

"I'm taking in current fashions, high quality fashions and will offer head-to-toe options, meaning shoes, scarves and jewelry," Johnson says. "We're targeting sizes 0 through 14 and our target market is women professionals aged 22 thru 44 who are fashion forward."

Johnson's criteria for accepting consignment items are, "first and foremost, condition and quality of the piece," she says. Brand names are preferred, but not required. She also looks for style, embellishments, color, pattern and texture.

Antique trunks, repurposed dress forms and retro furnishings will give the space a clean, eclectic look.

"'We painted every square inch, tore up the old floors and painted them high-gloss black," she says. Of the three rooms in the shop, one has magenta walls; the other two have Kelly green walls.

Although the brick building has storefront windows, Johnson isn't going to clutter them with displays.

"We would like the pizzazz of the interior to shine through the windows to the busy street," she says.

Source: Stephanie Johnson, Urban Exchange

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.


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Fennville's Salt of the Earth is more than a restaurant -- it’s also a coffee shop, bakery and bar, all in one downtown location.

“This project is all about community,” says co-owner and Fennville resident Mark Schrock. “We provide a place for people to gather, eat good food, listen to good music and see their neighbors.”
 
Schrock opened Salt of the Earth, 112-114 E. Main St., in August with Steve Darpel. The pair have owned the century-old building since 2000 and handled most of the renovation through their second business, Darpel and Associates Builders, Inc.

The storefront, renovated in the style of turn-of-the-century main street architecture, invites customers to enter the 6,000-square-foot space shared by the restaurant, bar, bakery and coffee shop.

The bar features live music on Fridays. Schrock has been performing music for about 40 years, and was previously a touring musician with the bluegrass band, Cabbage Crik.

“We wanted to create a place to showcase roots music, singer/songwriters, acoustic, bluegrass and blues,” Schrock says. “The music complements the food.”
 
Executive Chef Matthew Pietsch says he tries to serve most ingredients with the least amount of processing as possible.
 
“I try not to handle the food too much,” he says. “It’s my responsibility to present food respectfully.”
 
Pietsch uses a wood-burning oven, which takes a special technique. Almost everything served at Salt of the Earth is made from scratch including hand-rolled pasta, yogurt and ketchup. The restaurant also produces handmade bread daily under the supervision of bakery manager Mari Reijmerink.
 
“We’re really receptive to using locally sourced food wherever possible,” Pietsch says.

Salt of the Earth coffee shop and bakery are open at 7 a.m., followed by the dining room and bar at 5 p.m.

Source: Mark Schrock, Matthew Pietsch and Mari Reijmerink, Salt of the Earth

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be reached at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.


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Construction on the $1.1 million Campau Commons Community Center has resumed after a nine-month stall.

After completing the $14 million reconstruction of Campau Commons, a low-income housing complex on Grand Rapids' South Division Avenue, construction on the community center stopped when the anticipated federal funding didn't come through. Now that the Grand Rapids Housing Commission has received the funding from the Department of Housing & Urban Development, the project is moving forward.

The 9,000-square-foot community center will house the Campau Commons' administrative offices, and will be a base for providing support services for residents.

"We do a lot of coordinating of human services through the rest of the community, and this will be a hub for them to have classes and meetings," says Carlos Sanchez, GRHC executive director. "And if Head Start's willing to come back, we will have a room available for them there."

Residents will be able to pay their rent, receive help with matters like credit counseling or job training, and can use the available community room for private gatherings and parties.

"Right now it's hard to have partners come in and meet with the residents because there's no place to meet (until the community center is completed)," Sanchez says. "The managers and staff are managing from our Sheldon site, so they don't have a lot of connection with the Campau residents."

Campau Commons offers 92 low-income family dwellings. Sanchez says all are occupied.

"We were committed to getting this project done," he says. "It's ten times better than what it used to be."

Source: Carlos Sanchez, Grand Rapids Housing Commission

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$13.6 million Campau Commons rises from rubble

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.
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On Thursday, November 5th the 20th Annual Neighborhood Business Awards will honor businesses across the city that have been nominated for several "best of" categories, including Best Re-Use of a Building and Best Window Display. Rapid Growth spoke with two of the nominees.

Best Re-use of a Building: West Grand Neighborhood Organization
The West Grand Neighborhood Organization gladly moved into a 3,000-square-foot office space at 415 Leonard NW that is nearly four times the size of their former offices on Broadway.

"Because we have federal, state and city grants we give out to the neighborhood, we had to keep all the paperwork of what happened with the money," says Nola Jenner-Steketee, executive director. "We were climbing over boxes of paperwork. In order for someone to come in and talk to me, I had to climb over boxes to get in and out of my space. I used to say that was my exercise."

The WGNO kept the renovation simple in order to maintain the character of the old building. They preserved the original tin ceilings and wood floors, and kept office cubicles at a minimum by making them large enough to accommodate two or three employees.

"It made us feel so good to move in," Jenner-Steketee says. "Everybody comes in here and goes Ohhh! when they see how nice it looks."

Other nominees are:
Corez Wine Bar, 919 Cherry St
Eastern Floral, 818 Butterworth SW
Royal Martial Arts, 940 W Fulton St
The Winchester, 648 Wealthy St SE
Grand Rapids Community Foundation, 185 Oakes Street SW

Best Window Display: Imagination Creations
Old fashioned hobby horses repainted and adorned with glitter and wings "fly" overhead. A strapless gown fashioned out of a Twister Game mat adorns a mannequin on a high pedestal. And the rest of the space is so full of creative oddities one can hardly turn around.

"It's a curiosity shop, a bit of everything, something for everybody," says owner Heather McGartland of her shop at 120 S. Division Unit 126. "Some people think it's a head shop or voodoo shop because it's just so different, but it isn't. I specialize in reconstructed and recycled goods. Merchandise is discarded or gifted to us and we find the beauty in them and give them new life."

The "we" includes McGartland's mother, Susan Edwards, who works at the shop. McGartland has repurposed bubble wrap as a wedding dress, makes stylish clothing out of plastic six-pack rings and fashions children's bubble wands out of those rings using a Seal-A-Meal machine.

"Everything has to be 'Heatherized,'" she says with a grin.

A licensed hairdresser, McGartland specializes in applying hair attachments and clip-ins, and showing customers with dramatic hair loss how to do scarf wraps.

Other nominees are:
Blue Door Antiques, 946 E. Fulton
Bridge Street Electric, 812 Bridge St NW
Northwestern Home Furnishings, 637 Leonard St NW
Renee Austin, 444 Bridge St.
Venito's Clothing, 1951 Eastern Ave SE
Wealthy at Charles, 738 Wealthy St SE

The Neighborhood Business Awards are an event of the Neighborhood Business Alliance. Stay tuned to Rapid Growth for our online voting where you can vote for your favorite businesses. Those with the most online votes will receive a People's Choice Award sponsored by Rapid Growth.

The awards ceremony on November 5 is from 5 to 8 p.m. at Wealthy Theatre. The public is invited.

Source: Nola Jenner-Steketee, West Grand Neighborhood Organization; Heather McGartland, Imagination Creations; Sylvia Harris, Neighborhood Ventures

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.
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A new endeavor to gut and rehab an existing home in a Southwest Grand Rapids' neighborhood makes Aquinas College the first West Michigan college to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity project in its entirety.

Aquinas partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Kent County to renovate the 1940s dwelling at 721 Griggs SW as a LEED For Homes Total Gut-Rehab because the service project fits with the tenets of the school.

"One of the four Dominican charisms revolves around service and this is an opportunity to connect students, alumni and staff on a project that resonates with the charisms," says Greg McAleenan, Aquinas' vice president for institutional advancement. "Aquinas is the first college to offer a sustainable business degree and Habitat embraces the same values for sustainability."

One of the home's green features is Ultra Touch cotton insulation made from recycled denim. Product claims say the insulation contains no formaldehyde, is mold and mildew resistant and doesn't irritate skin. On Earth Day 2009, Aquinas students and staff donated 731 pounds of denim for recycling into insulation.

Bob Joslin and his daughter Tiara are both Aquinas alum and they plan to donate the insulation through their Comstock Park company, Cotton Insulation, says McAleenan.

McAleenan says Habitat gutted the home in preparation for the rebuild, and now students, staff and alumni are volunteering on-site to rebuild the interior, working toward a November 1 completion.

Aquinas committed to a $37,500 financial investment for the home. The college expects to raise the money through fundraising. A federal program will match the donation. Aquinas also seeks in-kind donations of materials.

The homebuyer family, Matthew Riak and Achol Kuir, work alongside the volunteers as part of their commitment to invest 300 to 500 hours of sweat equity in the home. Riak is a Lutheran minister and a former "Lost Boy" of Sudan. The couple is expecting their first child.

Source: Greg McAleenan, Aquinas College; Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
 aq dominican charisms
 ultra touch
 habitat

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

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In a renovated 19th Century building across the street from the Kalamazoo River is downtown Saugatuck's newest restaurant. Named for the park it overlooks, Wicks Park Bar & Grille at 449 Water Street is a family-owned eatery offering family dining and bar amenities.

Christopher Pierce, along with his wife Christine and in-laws Patrick and Pam Murphy, opened the restaurant early this summer, escaping a slowing real estate career in Florida.

"I decided to get out of the cold real estate market of southern Florida and get into the cold weather of Michigan," Pierce says. But all joking aside, he says the restaurant has had a fantastic, successful summer.

The Pierces and Murphys renovated what was formerly The Boathouse restaurant with the intention of making it a family-friendly place. It needed some major work, so they replaced the roof, added French doors to the front and overhauled the interior. The result is a restaurant with a bright dining room and a cozy bar space.

The non-smoking eatery seats 120 people and can accommodate large gatherings. Musicians perform live on Friday and Saturday nights.

The restaurant serves American cuisine with fresh ingredients, Pierce says. The blackened mahi-mahi tacos are a popular specialty. The business taps local suppliers for regional specialties such as fresh-roasted coffee from Uncommon Grounds in Saugatuck and tasty breads from deBoer Bakkerij in Holland.

"We’ve been welcomed into the town," Pierce says of the lakeshore community. "We offer something that's new in Saugatuck."

Source: Christopher Pierce, Wicks Park Bar & Grille

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

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Just a block north of the billion-dollar-plus Medical Mile development on Grand Rapids' Michigan Street hill lays Belknap Lookout, a neighborhood that wants to reap some of the socioeconomic rewards of its proximity to the development.

At the same time, the neighborhood wants to preserve its traditional character while rebuilding its commercial areas, addressing housing needs and increasing homeownership.  

To that end, the Neighbors of Belknap Lookout (NOBL) recently presented a draft Area Specific Plan (ASP) to the Grand Rapids Planning Commission with a request to add it to the city's Master Plan. The proposal is the culmination of nearly two years of work.

"This plan is built on consensus," says Andy Guy, a Belknap homeowner and leader of the ASP steering committee. "This is a clear statement of how this neighborhood wants to redevelop. The plan creates spectacular redevelopment opportunities."

The NOBL plan centers on the region of the neighborhood atop Belknap Lookout Hill bounded by Michigan, College and Leonard streets. The plan suggests five Context Districts, that include:

• Traditional family housing – single family, duplexes and triplexes, maintains the scale and character of residential areas, encourages rehabilitation of existing structures, sets guidelines for new infill.
• Mixed housing – includes rowhouses, apartment houses and center hall apartment buildings. Intended to promote diversity and housing opportunities for a variety of income levels.
• Cottage retail – a residential gateway to the neighborhood, opportunities for retail businesses. Incorporates mixed-use buildings with raised ground floors and front door access via a stoop or porch.
• Neighborhood transitional – visible entrance to the neighborhood, provides connections to the medical community and I-196.
• Neighborhood center – highest intensity of development to provide shopping, dining, pedestrian activity and access to public transit.

"We put a lot of energy into moving the conversation from how many people per square inch into what do the buildings look like and what is the overall character of the neighborhood," Guy says.

The proposed plan goes to the City Commission for review prior to the Planning Commission's vote on adoption.

Source: Andy Guy, Steering Committee, Neighbors of Belknap Lookout Area Specific Plan

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Belknap goes MOBL

Neighbors of Belknap Lookout get specific with new development strategy

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.


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The Creston business corridor shines a bit brighter this week after the unveiling of two new murals that mark the neighborhood's commitment to enlivening the streets with public art. The murals are the first two projects of the Creston Public Art Project, a three-year community outdoor art initiative that aims to attract visitors and residents to the shopping district.

A $15,000 grant from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) funded the creation of the murals, and members of the Creston Neighborhood Association selected artists from the neighborhood based on proposals submitted.

Michael Pfleghaar's "Into The Garden" graces a former entryway into the Plainfield United Methodist Church building at Spencer and Plainfield. The painting invites passersby to gaze through the painted-on iron gates into an imaginary botanical garden of red, greens and blues.

"Should be Culture" by artist Nathan Goddard brings the outside wall of Jimmy's Chicken and Ribs to life. Goddard's inspiration came from famous artists such as Andy Warhol and Piet Mondrian, and includes images of enormous paintbrushes symbolizing Creston as a work in progress.

"LISC wanted to help the Creston neighborhood accomplish what it envisioned in their community charrette, and one of the things they envisioned was public art," says Tom Pfister, LISC program officer. "I think this art translates into there's something afoot in Creston, there's more than meets the eye. Our neighborhoods that surround downtown are critical to Grand Rapids. We see it as a visual cue of the positive energy and quality of life a place has to offer."

Source: Tom Pfister, Local Initiatives Support Corporation; Creston Neighborhood Association

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Creston Public Art Project gets $15,000 boost, next step in corridor improvement initiative

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.


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A new café in Holland's Southshore Village neighborhood may seem a bit familiar to some residents. That's because New Leaf Café is actually a reinvention of the Leaf & Bean Café, owned by Ron and Sybil Cathey and their son, Marcus.

The Catheys closed up Leaf & Bean, 451 Columbia Avenue, and opened the New Leaf Café in the former Holland Habitat for Humanity office at 341 W. 16th St, near Kollen Park.

The eatery offers organic vegetarian fare, and will be adding other dining options such as smoked salmon and shrimp chowder, "early bird" dinners and pizza on Fridays.

"We gave our cafe a new name because we are turning over a new leaf," Sybil Cathey says.

The Catheys also created a bandstand area that will showcase live music.

"We're looking to become a fun place for an adult crowd to enjoy live entertainment in a non-bar setting," Ron Cathey says.

Although the historical building dates back to 1910, it did not require major remodeling.

"It's very unique inside, with exposed brick walls and a beautiful hardwood floor," Sybil says of the 3,000-square-foot space.

The Catheys owned Leaf & Bean Café in 2006. Shortly after, both Ron and Sybil lost their jobs so they focused their energies on developing the restaurant. Sybil and Marcus relied on their love of food and experience in catering, and Ron returned to school to become a certified massage therapist.

The New Leaf Café building will also house Ron’s Re-Leaf Massage, gallery space for guest artists and classroom space for weekly yoga and tai-chi classes.

Source: Sybil and Ron Cathey, New Leaf Café.

Web site: Southshore Village - 

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.
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A renovated 19th Century French Italianate mansion has become Zeeland's first bed and breakfast. The Baert Baron Mansion Bed & Breakfast, 120 S. Church St., opened in July after owners Vic and Anna VanDeventer invested $200,000 transforming the 14-room manor house into a home away from home for visitors.

"It was built for others to enjoy over 100 years ago," Anna VanDeventer says. She and Vic purchased the mansion some 10 years ago after relocating to Zeeland from Southern Indiana five years earlier. "When we first moved to Zeeland, we said if we could ever own that home it would be a bed & breakfast."

New this fall at the mansion is Anna's Café, offering soups, salads, sandwiches, coffee and teas during lunchtime hours.

Dr. Daniel Baert built the home in 1872. The VanDeventers spent three years, 51 weeks and four days restoring all 5,000 square feet of the structure which includes four guest bedrooms with traditional Victorian décor, a dressing room, a large dining room, parlor, formal living room, a four seasons room, a library, and an attic redesigned as a suite. They also added a commercial kitchen and renovated the carriage house.

The mansion has the original woodwork. Restoration included refinishing the original floors, stenciling the ceilings with 1830s patterns and outfitting the bathrooms with claw foot tubs similar to the originals.

Although the historic ambience is the focal point, the VanDeventers didn't forget modern amenities such as wireless Internet access and the 1,700-square-foot patio where guests can relax and enjoy the newly-landscaped surroundings.

Source: Anna VanDeventer, Baert Baron Mansion Bed & Breakfast

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

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Business owner Greg Slater says he is impressed with Grand Haven's efforts to promote "buying local." That's just one of the reasons he chose downtown Grand Haven to open a second location of his technology sales and support business, CCS Technologies.

The new store at 206 Washington Avenue is similar to the original store Slater founded in downtown Coopersville 33 years ago, offering sales and service of computers, laptops and other technology products.

Slater decided to move forward with the new store because of his increasing client base along the lakeshore, as well as encouraging results from a Grand Haven Downtown Development Authority marketing survey that showed the need for an electronics retailer.

"Putting down roots, as well as strong community involvement, will be some of the keys to our success in Grand Haven,” Slater says.

The new location is CCS Technologies' second major expansion in the past 10 years. In 2001, Slater restored a building on Coopersville's Main Street and grew the business to include a computer repair center and office supplies.

With the expansion to Grand Haven, the tech business hopes to add five more employees to its current 10 in the next two years. The 1,900-square-foot space won't require much work, just retail shelving and new signage.

"We'll also be adding a computer tech area that will allow us to work on customers' computers," Slater says.

With the ever-changing technology industry, CCS Technologies adapted and evolved its business model to meet the needs of individuals and the business world.

In 1976, the company provided payroll, accounts payable and receivable services and reporting and accounting functions to several West Michigan businesses. As personal computers became more common and companies began processing their own information, CCS evolved into an IT service provider.

In addition to computer sales and repair, Slater and his team of technicians now provide networking assistance, help desk support, Web design and more. The new store will open in October.

Source: Greg Slater, CCS Technologies

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.

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The owners of downtown Grand Rapids' Gina's Boutique and East Grand Rapids' Rosa's Closet recently announced their plan to open a new boutique that offers designer fashions tailored specifically for average-sized women.

Gina VanGessel, 29, and Rosa Piccione, 36, plan an October opening for the new joint venture, Lia Rose, 40 Monroe Center. The boutique, named after the owners' moms, will offer women's fashions in sizes 2 to 16.

"I've been hearing in my store: 'This is so cute, but I can't fit into it,'" VanGessel says. "We want women to be able to wear fashion-forward clothing, whether they're a size 2 or a size 16."

VanGessel says most boutiques cater to a "junior fit," but Lia Rose will carry "missy fit."

"It's not about a certain age or certain style of woman; it's about the fit,' she says.

The store shares an interior wall with Gina's Boutique, which is also located at 40 Monroe Center. Customers can enter through sidewalk entrance and, once inside, can move from one store to the other through a new interior archway that connects the shops.

Lia Rose will have clean modern décor accented in green, pink and yellow to showcase the designer lines: Antilia (fashion tops), Fever (sweaters), Essex (dresses), Fashqué (Italian jeans, fashion tops) and Brighton Jewelry. The shop will offer handbags and scarves, as well.

Like Gina's and Rosa's, Lia Rose will host private events and parties for customers.

A sneak peek at the store's featured fashions, as well as styles from Gina's and Rosa's is planned from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. September 25, during the opening weekend of ArtPrize at ACTIVESITE, an ArtPrize venue also located at 40 Monroe Center.

Source: Gina VanGessel, Lia Rose and Gina's Boutique; Kim Bode, 834 Design & Marketing

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.
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West Michigan's unpredictable weather and a predicted shortage of parking space prompted Gerald R. Ford International Airport leaders to break ground on a $114 million parking ramp that provides covered pedestrian access to and from the terminal.

Airport spokesperson Bruce Schedlbauer says that foresight could attract more airlines to Grand Rapids, connecting West Michigan to more opportunities that could bring increased business travel and vacationers.

"If a low cost carrier is looking at coming into Grand Rapids they'll say: 'We will attract X number of customers, do you have a place for them to park?'" Schedlbauer says. "'No' is not the appropriate answer because they want to know their customers are taken care of."

Construction on the $114 million, 4,700-space parking ramp began 18 months ago and will wrap up in November. Short- and long-term parking, valet parking and rental car pickup and return services will all be under roof.

The four-story structure includes escalators and elevators in the ramp and in the terminal that lead to two enclosed pedestrian skybridges linking the two structures. A graceful wave-look glass canopy covers a span of roadway between the terminal and the parking ramp.

The ramp's construction is the last remaining goal of the airport's 20-year master plan. Schedlbauer says that to wait until more parking is needed would put the airport years behind in preparing for expected growth – growth, he says, that is supported by air traffic patterns predicted by national experts.

"We've outpaced the national [air traffic] volume quite often (for comparatively sized airports)," Schedlbauer says. "During peak travel times, there were times when we would start to reach capacity in the former parking areas."

Source: Bruce Schedlbauer, Gerald R. Ford International Airport 

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.


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