Coffee shop among venues for downtown ‘strolling market’
A downtown “strolling market” concept is getting plenty of interest as momentum builds towards construction this winter and an opening next spring.
Developer Gary Post has at least 10 retailers interested in one of the initial 25 stalls on the Russell Block Market’s first floor. Post and his Port City Construction & Development Services LLC are redeveloping the old Daniel’s Office Supply building on West Western Avenue into a shopping market for everything from coffee and baked goods to specialty gifts and a bicycle rental.
“Overall, the reaction has been very positive,” Post said of unveiling the market plans in late May. “There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for the idea and the concept. We are in the phase right now of lining up tenants and firming up interest.”
Besides the seven businesses that have signed non-binding “letters of intent,” Post said he is in discussions with another dozen prospective tenants for the 100-square-foot selling spaces. Port City Construction has hired Keith Sipe, who has a background in sales and property management, to help in the sales and marketing of the building, Post said.
The businesses signing letters of intent are Great Lakes Java coffee shop, McDonald’s Candies, Ron’s Ice Cream, Lily Pad Lane children’s toy shop, craft shops Regal Beader, Phyllis Ann Crafts and Hokey Pokey, along with gift shops Sun Wind & Rain, The Shadow Box and Glass Reflections.
The Russell Block Market is gaining interest from existing businesses looking for a satellite or second downtown location like Great Lakes Java, McDonald’s Candies and Sun Wind & Rain. Others are existing businesses looking for a new location such as Phyllis Ann Crafts and Regal Beader while the ice cream and children’s toy shops are new businesses.
“Gary has an outstanding idea,” said Great Lakes Java owner Roy Thompson, who operates a drive-through coffee outlet on West Sherman Boulevard. “Muskegon has a lot of potential and I want to be part of that potential downtown.”
As Post and Sipe look to fill the main floor of the market, the developers are still looking to secure a bakery outlet and begin to build a group of retailers selling fresh produce and foods. The market is designed to be an outlet for everything from flowers to magazines and will have a public outdoor area between the Russell building and the nearby Hines Building offices.
