What's In Store

In 1993, a planning report by the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority stated that, to propel growth, Grand Rapids must have “more to offer people of all ages – more things to do and see in a more attractive, easier-to-use downtown. It must be a place for all of us to gather together and have fun.”

Fifteen years later, most residents will agree that Grand Rapids is heading in the right direction. The downtown area is undoubtedly better looking than other cities of similar size, its clean streets flanked with flowers and trees.

The additions of the Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, the new Grand Rapids Art Museum and countless bars and restaurants have certainly ramped up the fun factor. But many downtown business owners and residents agree that something specific remains lacking from the downtown landscape - a centralized retail shopping district.

“More retail stores downtown would be beneficial for the city and for existing retailers,” says Gina VanGessel, owner of Gina’s Boutique on Monroe Center. “Currently, there is an incentive to dine, to go to bars, to go to the museum, but no incentive to come downtown to go shopping.”

While there are dozens of shops downtown, the consensus is that Grand Rapids does not yet have the critical mass of stores in one central location to make it worthwhile for many residents to choose downtown over other shopping areas, such as the malls or business strips along 28^th Street or Alpine Avenue.

“I’ll go out to 28^th Street because they have a lot all in one place – parking, restaurants and stores,” said Allie Blondeel, a downtown resident. “There’s a boutique here and there downtown, but it isn’t convenient because they aren’t near each other.”

Wanted: One Stop Shopping
With more than $900 million in Grand Rapids construction projects currently underway, the city is certainly in a growth stage. But how can the retail offerings in downtown Grand Rapids catch up with the rest of the city?

To develop strategies and an action plan for improving retail, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) conducted a retail survey in collaboration with the Downtown Alliance, existing downtown retailers, as well as local real estate brokers and developers. The survey results, released in March 2008, include several ideas for taking downtown retail to the next level in Grand Rapids.

Retailers, residents, and the DDA generally agree on a three-pronged approach to improving the retail climate: increase support for current businesses, improve the recruitment of new businesses, and lure additional consumers downtown. The retail survey resulted in a number of recommendations, some of which the DDA has already started moving forward with.

The DDA, for example, has applied for a state grant to improve the exteriors of many of the buildings near the intersection of Division and Oakes. Another next step is to generate interest in prime retail sites available downtown by promoting the site details through the DDA website, real estate broker round-table meetings, and at relevant conventions.

The DDA also is considering organizing professional development workshops for retailers, developing a standard protocol to welcome new businesses, targeting specific businesses to recruit, and devising additional incentives to entice new retailers downtown. They will continue to research ways to attract more residents downtown, beginning by actively promoting the free 60-minute parking that is available in the Monroe Center ramp.

One common theme that cropped up among business owners and residents alike is simply the importance of more retail choices, and particularly the need for a large national retailer.

“Downtown needs an anchor,” Gina VanGessel says. “The Gap would be a great choice – it’s so universal and would draw people to the city.”

Allie Blondeel agrees. She says a large department store or even a grocery store would help compel more residents and visitors to shop in the city.

“It’d be nice to have a Fresh Market or a big grocery store. I hate driving out of the city to go to Meijer,” she says. “And if we had a Macy’s or another department store where I could get all my shopping done in one stop, close to home – that would be ideal.”

Bullish On Downtown
Unfortunately, the department stores once found downtown in the city’s heyday, including Jacobson’s and Steketee’s, fell by the wayside after families began moving to the suburbs. In more recent years, however, new condominium developments have drawn families and individuals back to the downtown lifestyle. And that's slowing pushing up retail receipts.

“In the four years since my store has been open, I can see a huge difference with all the condos,” said VanGessel, who opened her store as An’gina’s Boutique in 2004. “Sales are up every year due to the fact that more people are living downtown."

More people are moving downtown. But many current retailers agree that the foot traffic needed to encourage more local or national retailers to open up shop isn’t quite there yet.

Emily Stavrou, promotions coordinator for Schuler Books & Music, which opened its downtown location in October 2007, says that their newest location hasn’t yet been as busy as they had hoped. Stavrou believes still more people need to move downtown before the area can fully support retail.

“If there is housing available for median income families, there will be the means to support retail growth,” she says. “By providing families with amenities they would find in suburban areas, such as laundromats, grocery stores, dry cleaners, good schools and daycare providers, more families would be willing to move in and businesses like ours would find the balance of clientele needed to support the bookstore.”

So, to make downtown Grand Rapids a viable center for retail, which needs to come first – the shoppers or the shops?

Like the classic debate of the chicken or the egg, it depends on who you ask. Developers are fearful to open new businesses without a high level of proven foot traffic, yet area residents won’t go for a stroll downtown without a compelling reason.

“Events and entertainment can really help draw people downtown, which I think in turn will cause more retailers to take a second look at Grand Rapids,” Allie Blondeel says. “The museum and Rosa Parks Circle are a great start, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the summer will bring.”

VanGessel agrees that the city is on the right track, and there is much to look forward to. She opened Gina’s Boutique downtown, in fact, because she could see that the area had a lot going for it and she was – and continues to be – optimistic about the future of downtown Grand Rapids.

“I believe in downtown,” VanGessel says. “Three years ago I had one of the only boutiques. Now there are six or seven. We are spread out, but people are realizing how cool downtown could be, and eventually it will get to where we want it to be.”