Development News

Embassy Grill to triple size and staff with new W. Saginaw location

Rick Badawi, The Embassy Grill Wednesday, May 22, 2013

After four years in their current W. Saginaw location, the Embassy Grill is on the move. Though the new home won't be far – just three blocks down W. Saginaw to the Lansing Towne Center – the 4,000 square foot location will triple their dining capacity, as well as their staff.

"We're hoping for more traffic," says General Manager Rick Badawi. "We're tucked into a corner here, but we'll be able to seat more than 140 there."

Work on the new Embassy Grill location has been underway since late 2012. The conversion will fairly dramatic to the former retail space that is now on it's way ot becoming a restaurant. Badawi says the atmosphere will echo the business' current look, but with the addition of patio seating and a separation between the dining and bar areas.

The Embassy Grill specializes in Lebanese, Italian and American dining, though Badawi says their Lebanese food has become a particular favorite to their clientele. They hope the larger, more visible new location will bring even more new diners to the restaurant.

The new Embassy Grill location is slated to open in June. With the expansion into the new space, Badawi expect to grow his staff from six to up to 20.

Source: Rick Badawi, The Embassy Grill
Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

All Star Cards more than quadruples space in new W. Saginaw store

Nathan Young, All Star Cards Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Nathan Young has been into collectables since he was five years old and his grandfather tossed him his first pack of baseball cards. Now, after 20 years in business, his All Star Cards has expanded into a new, larger location on W. Saginaw.

All Star Cards began in a small shop on Michigan Ave. two decades ago. After moving a couple of times, Young transitioned out of his 600 to 700 square foot Cedar St. location into his new 4,500 square foot space at 6119 W. Saginaw.

The new location opened on April 1, and the additional space allows Young to carry an expanded inventory, better organize his selection of cards, comics, toys, DVDs and other collectibles, as well as gives his customers more room to sit down and look through cards.

"I'm now able to give the collecting community a full line of supplies, and place to be able to relax and shop and not be bothered," says Young.

All Star Cards also carries hobby supplies and gaming cards.

Source: Nathan Young, All Star Cards
Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

City Rescue Mission Upscale Thrift to open in 10,000 sq ft W. Saginaw space

Mark Criss, City Rescue Mission Upscale Thrift Wednesday, May 01, 2013

City Rescue Mission has long utilized their clothing distribution center to provide garments to people in need. The local non-profit will soon be expanding their reach into the used clothing industry with the launch of City Rescue Mission Upscale Thrift on West Saginaw.

"We have so many people who want to support the rescue, we have stuff we have to give away," says Executive Director Mark Criss. "We decided to be better stewards of the donations by opening a thrift store."

Though City Rescue Mission will continue to provide free clothing to those in need, the new, 10,000 square foot thrift shop will allow the non-profit to give people a new way to support their mission, by shopping, donating or volunteering to help out.

City Rescue Mission Upscale Thrift is a partnership between City Rescue Mission and Holland-based Rescue Mission Alliance. The shop is set to open on May 7, with a grand opening planned for June 5. In addition to providing upscale clothing items and both new and used furniture, Criss hopes the store will help City Rescue Mission spread the word about what the non-profit does.

"We sheltered 142 people per night last year," says Criss. "About 90 of them were women and children at our shelter on S. Cedar Street. Most people are only familiar with our shelter on Michigan Ave. for men."

Work on City Rescue Mission Upscale Thrift has been underway for two years. In addition to being staffed by volunteers, the shop will employ four workers.

Source: Mark Criss, City Rescue Mission Upscale Thrift
Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

Southside Tattoos opens westside location as Noble Ink

Roxy Hayes, Noble Ink Wednesday, April 03, 2013

According to manager Roxy Hayes, the newly opened Noble Ink on W. Saginaw isn't your ordinary tattoo shop.

"We're all very family oriented," she says. "We're not that stereotypical idea of tattoo shop."

Noble Ink is owned by Southside Tattoos owner Bill Brown who had a vision top open a new location on Lansing's Westside. Hayes says fans of the original shop will recognize the same level of cleanliness, skill and personable service at Noble Ink with a new aesthetic.

"We have a lot of cool, aged décor," says Hayes. "A lot of local shops are darker with dark imagery on the walls. We have decorative mirrors and very old, cool tchotchkes everywhere."

Work on Noble Ink has been underway for a couple of months, and the new shop opened in March. The business currently employs three tattoo artists and one piercer. Hayes says the staff is looking forward to building a new clientele base on the west side of town.

Source: Roxy Hayes, Noble Ink
Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

Norplas Industries to invest $75M, create 400 new jobs in Delta Twp

Sara Graham, Lansing Economic Area Partnership Wednesday, January 30, 2013

President of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) Bob Trezise, has called it possibly the largest new manufacturer adding new jobs, and building a new, very large facility in the Lansing region in the last 15 years. With 400 new jobs and plans for $75 million investment in Delta Township, Norplas Industries, Inc. has announced plans to build a new, 350,000 square foot manufacturing facility.

The company is a manufacturing division of Magna Exteriors and Interiors. The new plant will be a state-of-the-art robotic paint line and injection molding, tier one, manufacturing facility. The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved $2 million in economic incentives for the project. Additional incentives and assistance from Delta Township and LEAP will also be a part of the development.

"We believe this development will have additional spinoff within the automotive sector," says Talent & Communications Director for LEAP, Sara Graham, "and possibly bring additional companies to our area."

In terms of a timeline for the project, Graham says LEAP anticipates construction will begin in late spring or early summer.

"The company has expressed urgency to move the process forward," she says.

Hibachi House offers fresh fast food, creates four jobs

Qiuyan Chen, Hibachi House Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Qiuyan Chen and her husband Mou Li aren’t new to the Asian food business, but their latest restaurant, Hibachi House, is something new for the Lansing area.

“We decided to add a totally new thing to the Lansing area,” says Chen. “We cook the food right on the hibachi grill. It’s hot and fresh.”

It’s also fast. The 3,000 square foot, Delta Township restaurant seats sit-down diners inside, but also includes a drive-thru window for diners on the go.

“A lot people who work don’t have a lot of time,” Chen says. “We can provide fast food that is a real meal during their lunch time.”

Chen adds that the Hibachi House food is also healthy, using no MSG, little oil and low-sugar fried rice.

Hibachi House opened at 4021 W. Saginaw on October 15. The restaurant currently employs four workers. Chen hopes to expand the concept into additional Lansing-area locations in the future.

Lansing Urgent Care opens third location on Westside

Lansing Urgent Care Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Lansing Urgent Care is growing. The business, which opened its first location in 2006 and its second in 2010, is now preparing to open a third location on Lansing’s Westside.

“When we were honored as the Greater Lansing Entrepreneur of the year in Healthcare services in 2011 it spurred us to expand and help fulfill the need for same day medical services," says Dr. Terry Matthews, owner of Lansing Urgent Care. "Another motivator to open our third facility is that family doctors are retiring at record rates and sadly fewer and fewer new doctors are entering primary care. As a result, patients often experience a delay in seeing their own doctor or they resort to a very expensive ER visit at the moment they need care."

The 4500 square foot facility will open in early December on West Saginaw just east of the Lansing Mall in Delta Township. According to a Lansing Urgent Care spokesperson, the new office will help ease the regional demand for their services.

“As a physician it always feels good to bring additional medical services to an area," says Matthews. "As local business owners my wife Catherine and I are very excited to be able to bring many new permanent full-time positions to the Lansing area."

The new Lansing Urgent Care location will be similar to the existing facilities, with six exam rooms, an onsite lab and digital X-Ray services. Hiring began company-wide earlier this year to prepare for the opening. Eight new positions have been created over the last year, bringing the total staff of Lansing Urgent Care to 42 employees.

Holt-based Tacos E Mas opens Delta Twp location, adds six jobs

David Delacruz Jr., Tacos E Mas Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Delacruzes opened Tacos E Mas in Holt four years ago with authentic family recipes. Lansing area diners approved, and demand for their specialty Mexican food has led to a second location in Delta Township.

The second Tacos E Mas opened in early October on W. Thomas L Parkway, just off of West Saginaw. The 1,000 square foot location offers carry out, delivery, as well as dine-in accommodations for up to 30 diners.

The food at Tacos E Mas comes directly from General Manager David Delacruz Jr.’s grandmother’s recipes. The menu includes some unique items diners may not find at other Mexican restaurants, such as hot burros, a meat-filled tortilla covered in a spicy cheese sauce and beans.

“It’s all her recipes,” says Delacruz. “She passed away and left them to us. There are some ingredients that are a little more expensive in some things, but we stand by them, because it makes the food taste that much better.”

The new location currently employs six workers. Delacruz expects the business to eventually grow to a staff of ten. His family hopes to open a third Lansing location in the next one to three years.

Eco-friendly The Root Celler opens, to create five jobs

Kristine Gilbert-Gigante, The Root Cellar Wednesday, November 14, 2012

For Kristine Gilbert-Gigante, owning her own salon has been a lifetime pursuit.

“I’ve always wanted to be a hairdresser,” she says. “We have pictures of me when I was little with curlers and doing hair.”

Now, after 14 years of working as a professional stylist, Gilbert-Gigante has opened The Root Cellar, an eco-friendly salon on West Saginaw in Lansing.

“Our goal is to be as eco-friendly as possible,” she says. “We recycle everything we use. If I’m not going to do it, nobody is going to do it for me.”

The Root Cellar specializes in “eco aware” products, such as ammonia free hair color and gluten free hair products. The 1,000 square foot salon opened in early October and employs Gilbert-Gigante, an additional stylist and a reflexologist. Gilbert-Gigante will add two additional staff members to her team in the near future, and will also soon being offering raindrop therapy services.

Sin 2 Skin Tattoos to open third location, create six jobs

Sam Perez, Sin 2 Skin Tattoos Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Just a year and a half after opening their first location on Cedar Street, Sin 2 Skin Tattoos has added a location in Brighton, and is now planning the opening of their second Lansing shop on West Saginaw.

“The opportunity just came about,” says Sam Perez, brother of the growing business’ owner, Diane Raeder. “A friend owned the barber shop next door, and he knew the spot was opening up, and it seemed like a good idea.”

The new, 1,100 square foot location will employ two receptionists, three tattoo artists and a piercer, according to Perez. He hopes the new location will open in January of next year. The key to the company’s growth, he says, is the way they treat their customers.

“We have great practices and great customer service,” says Perez. “We stand behind all of our work.”

Perez says their plan is to continue growing Sin 2 Skin Tattoos into a franchise and to open up to seven locations.

FedEx expands with new 147,000 sq ft facility in Delta Twp.

Erin Truxal, FedEx Ground Wednesday, October 03, 2012

A new facility in Delta Township will help accelerate ground service delivery in the area. FedEx Ground is now building a new distribution center on South Canal Road. The more than 147,000 square foot development is expected to be complete in the summer of 2013.

“It will be larger than an existing station now serving the area,” says Manager of Public Relations for FedEx Ground, Erin Truxal, “allowing us to continue to meet and exceed customer demands in the region.”

According to Truxal, the site was chosen because of its ease of access to major highways, proximity to customers’ distribution centers and a strong local community workforce for recruiting employees. Upon opening, positions will transfer from the existing station, and the workforce will grow as necessary to support increased demand.

“The new facility is part of a nationwide network expansion to boost daily package volume capacity and further enhance the speed and service capabilities of the FedEx Ground network,” says Truxal.

The new facility joins 11 new FedEx Ground hubs featuring the most advanced material-handling systems since 2005 and more than 500 expanded or relocated facilities. The company-wide enhancements have resulted in accelerating ground service delivery by one day or more in more than half of the United States.

New, 7,600 sq ft Buffalo Wild Wings to open in Delta Township

Cheryl Moscato, JK&T Wings, Inc. Wednesday, September 19, 2012

More wings are on the way to Lansing. On October 13, Buffalo Wild Wings plans to open their second area location in the former Benningan’s building on West Saginaw in Delta Township.

“We’ve been looking for a second location in the Greater Lansing area for several years now,” says Cheryl Moscato, vice president of marketing and advertising for JK&T Wings, Inc., a franchisee of Buffalo Wild Wings. “We’ve always had the intention of putting in a second store.”

Renovations on the interior and exterior of the building are now underway. A four-season patio will be added to the building, bringing the new restaurant to 7,662 square feet. According to Moscato, about 130 employees will be hired initially to open the new Buffalo Wild Wings in October. Regular staffing levels are expected to be maintained at around 100 workers.

“We are happy to be expanding in the Greater Lansing area, and we’re looking forward to being an active member in the community,” Moscato says.

That community involvement will kick off soon as the restaurant is partnering with two local high schools on a fundraising opportunity. The high schools will sell $20 tickets to the Buffalo Wild Wings employee trainings. Ticket holders will be the first patrons of the new restaurant before its official opening, giving employees a live training opportunity. All proceeds from the sales will benefit the schools.

New resale shop, Just My Style, opens in 2,000 sq ft Delta Twp location

Camie O'Dell, Just My Style Wednesday, September 12, 2012

There’s a new place for fashion resale in Lansing. Just My Style opened in August on West Saginaw in Delta Township. The 2,000 square foot facility offers children’s and adults' clothing, accessories and home goods.

“This is what we’ve always dreamed of doing, starting our own business,” says Camie O’Dell, who owns Just My Style with her husband, Clarence O’Dell.

The O’Dells worked at a children’s home for more than 20 years. After taking some time off while dealing with health issues, the couple decided the time was right to fulfill their dream by opening a resale shop.

“We try to do name brand clothes at great prices,” O’Dell says. “Everything is in really good condition and really clean.”

The O’Dells are still awaiting their sign, but are looking forward to attracting customers in their high traffic area.

“We love where we’re located,” says O’Dell. “Our goal is just to keep the good sales going and maybe offer people something different.”

Astera Credit Union to open new Delta Township location

Jeff Croff, Astera Credit Union Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Astera Credit Union is about to become much more visible in Lansing.

We originally built this location to be convenient to the workers at the body plant,” says Jeff Croff, vice president of marketing for Astera Credit Union of the bank’s main office on Waverly. “Now they’ve relocated to the Delta plant, so many of our members are no longer frequenting the area.”

The local credit union that now operates six area offices will soon move their main office services to a seventh office on Saginaw Highway in Delta Township. Work on the new branch began about six weeks ago and is expected to continue until February of next year.

The new main branch of Astera Credit Union will offer new services, such as a drive-up ATM and employees trained in a variety of positions.

“It will change our model of service,” says Croff. “Currently, we have folks in the teller function, and also as loan officers. Now, people who come in at the new facility to make a deposit can decide they want to apply for an auto loan and the person who is helping them can do everything.”

Astera’s growth isn’t limited to the upcoming branch. The credit union recently added a branch in Greenville and now services 21 counties and employs 76 workers. Over the last year, five new staff members have been added. Croff anticipates additional employees will be added with the new branch office.

Local family opens 1,600 sq ft International Minute Press, adds three jobs

Cary Ritter, International Minute Press Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Lyle and Cary Ritter wanted to start a family business to pass on to their kids. With Cary Ritter’s 20 years in the printing industry, starting a family print shop seemed like the obvious choice.

“We print everything from brochures to booklets, letterhead, envelopes, promotional bags and other items,” says Cary Ritter. “We’re a one stop shop.”

The 1,600 square foot International Minute Press on West Saginaw offers all digital printing.

“That’s a niche we bought into because it goes right from the computer to the press,” Ritter say. “We’re very excited about the opportunity to service the community.”

The Ritter’s new business employs Lyle, Cary and one fulltime employee. The couple hopes to eventually pass the business on to their children, and have enjoyed sharing free ice cream with their new customers.

“It’s been great,” Ritter says. “It’s been fun learning the community here. It’s been one excitement after another.”

Westside : Development News