The pizza king of Lansing's REO Town, Geno Abbey, is back with a brand new location in Downtown Lansing: Geno's Pizzeria.

Abbey moved into the roughly 3,000 sq. ft. space at 208 S. Washington Square next to Tavern on the Square. The new space is three times the space Abbey had in REO Town.

"We looked at a location near Frandor," says Abbey "But when I walked in here, I felt this just feels right. With the business and foot traffic Downtown, it was a natural fit."

Geno's Pizzeria currently carries a staff of eight to ten people, including several recent new hires. Abbey moved to Michigan from New Jersey in 1994 and says his pizzeria is modeled after "a 1950s New York slice joint." Whole pies can be ordered at Geno's, but the two slices for $5 deal has made the humble pizzeria a lunchtime hot spot.

"We just exploded," says Abbey.

Most of the renovation work was done on the kitchen in order to open it up so customers can watch the hand tossed pizzas being made. Geno's had a soft opening with a limited menu on Mar. 17th and its grand opening with a full menu will be in April.

"I've got a passion for making pizza," says Abbey.

Source: Geno Abbey

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

Lansing has a new transplant: Data Mail Services. The business moved into a more than 6,700 sq. ft. warehouse owned by Dart Development Group. The company moved all the way from Flint into the Oakwood Executive Park, owned by Dart Development Group.

Marsha Zimmerman, Marketing Manager of Dart Development Group, says the move was a logical one for the mailing service. "Oakwood is in close proximity to the post office," she says. The industrial park is also close to nearby Michigan State University.

Zimmerman says there were not any build-outs required for the additional space, but that Dart Development Group had to remove several offices to create more room. "We pride ourselves on maintaining our buildings," Zimmerman says.

Data Mail Service is a printing and direct to mail service provider, and Zimmerman says they will be around for awhile. "They signed a three year lease," she notes.

Oakwood Executive Park, the new home of Data Mail Services, is a Michigan Certified Business Park and lies within Delhi Township and City of Lansing jurisdictions. Oakwood's website boasts of the location as being, "Centrally located between Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, Detroit, Chicago and Toledo."

Oakwood can be found on I-96 and is less than two miles from US-127.

Source: Marsha Zimmerman

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

There is a new antique store in Old Town—Greenfield Collection Antiques.

The shop moved into the 2,000 sq. ft. building after its previous location in Potterville caught fire and eventually collapsed. The new location, in what used to be Scavenger Hunt on Grand River Ave. in Old Town, opened on Mar. 1st.

"We drove by, saw the building for rent and we liked it," says co-owner Mike Polston. "The move has been good for us," he says. "Everyone [in Old Town] is really friendly."

Because the building had been used for a similar purpose prior to Greenfield moving in, there were not any renovations required. "The move was pretty smooth," Polston says.

Polston did have one concern about the move, however: "We thought parking would be an issue," says Polston. "But it's not."

Greenfield Collection is across the street from the Brenke Fish Ladder parking lot. Polston also enjoys the eclectic nature of Old Town and sings the praises of his fellow shopkeepers in the neighborhood.

"We'll try for a grand opening on Apr. 17th or 18th," says Polston. "We bring in stuff daily and our stock is ever changing."

Greenfield Collection is open Tues. through Sat., 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sun. 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Source: Mike Polston

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

Firstbank has began construction on a brand new building in DeWitt. Once completed, the building will be 2,000 to 2,200 sq. ft. in size. The current incarnation of the bank is located inside a rental space in a strip mall.

"The way the bank has grown," says Craig Bishop, president of Firstbank in St. Johns, where the main Firstbank office is located, "we felt comfortable in taking the next step and building a permanent home."

Between the cost of construction and land purchase, the new bank will cost $1.2 million to build. Firstbank in DeWitt currently has a staff of four and is looking for a fifth. The hope is that the new bank will be open by mid or late August.

"It will be full service," says Bishop, explaining that the new building will have drive-up services, a lobby and an ATM.

Firstbank started in St. Johns in June of 2000. "This bank [DeWitt] is part of Firstbank St. Johns," says Bishop, adding that Firstbank recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. "We hit a milestone of $100 million of business over ten years."

There are currently 53 Firstbank branches across Michigan, including Kalamazoo and Ionia.

Source: Craig Bishop

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

The contemporary art gallery, Mackerel Sky in East Lansing, has moved to a new building.

The move, albeit a short 110 paces, allowed the gallery to sign a new 10-year lease. The new building is 1,670 sq. ft. and the gallery retains its staff of two full-time and two part-time employees. only 110 paces.

"We wanted to be around for 10 more years," says Tom Dufelmeier, who owns the gallery along with his wife. "We were pretty crowded in the old place," says Dufelmeier "But it is easy to display things here."

Mackerel Sky first opened in Aug. 1990 and is still going strong. "We're doing really well, business has picked up quite a bit," says Dufelmeier.

The new location was formerly a restaurant and some repairs had to be done before Mackerel Sky could move in, such as a new heating and cooling unit.

Dufelmeier says they are focusing on green environmental features at the new location "We're trying to be environmentally conscious," he says. "It is kind of a no brainer."

Dufelmeier says there will be a 20th anniversary celebration in August, with a special exhibit featuring artists from the gallery's past.

Despite the short move, visitors can still park where they would before says Dufelmeier. "Come in and see what's new," he encourages patrons.

Source: Tom Dufelmeier

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

An independent, locally owned healthy food option is coming to Downtown Lansing's Washington Square: Eden's Juice. The healthy juice bar moved into the building that used to host the salad buffet restaurant, Fresh.

Tameko Richard, vice-president of Eden's Juice, says the building has a whole new interior for the juice bar. "[It was] totally done over," she says. "We re-did everything."

Richard describes Eden's Juice as a "meal in a cup," and is hoping the new business catches on in Lansing. Eden's Juice will sell yogurt, smoothies and raw juices. The business focuses on selling healthy foods in a fast-food environment Downtown, which makes it unique.

"We did a lot of [market] research, and no one is doing that [in Lansing]," she says.

When asked why Downtown Lansing was chosen for the location, Richard says, "Lansing is on the rise."

Like other small, start-up companies around Lansing, Eden's Juice is planning to be very involved with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Richard says Eden's Juice's mission is "to serve our guest in a stylish, uplifting environment where the active, health-conscious guest can create their highest-quality smoothies, frozen yogurts, and raw juices in a clean, customer friendly atmosphere."

Eden's Juice will be opening soon.
 
Source: Tameko Richard

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

Lansing's Southside has a new place for feeding your fish and chips craving—Scalawags Whitefish & Chips.

"I was always looking to open a new location and the opportunity came," says owner Stephen Joseph, who also owns the Westside Scalawags on Saginaw Highway.

The new restaurant is a 2,300 sq. ft. building at 6250 S. Cedar that used to be a Chinese restaurant. Joseph hired nine employees to run the new Scalawags, which opened this past December.

Switching the building over required a complete build out and plenty of cleaning. Joseph says he is considering a patio in the future.

For the time being, though, he is focused on updating Scalawags' menu. "Healthier, with more salads," explains Joseph, adding that grilled fish will soon be available. He is also experimenting with lower priced meals in hopes of luring in new customers.

Joseph has run the Westside Lansing Scalawags for five years and has been in the restaurant business since 1988.  "I like the business. It's fun," he says. Joseph also recently opened City Fish in the Lansing City Market. He says he may add a fresh fish cooler at the new Southside Scalawags.

Scalawags is unique in that its fish all come from local suppliers, and its trademark whitefish are caught by some of Michigan's Native American tribes.

Source: Stephen Joseph

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

Meridian Entertainment Group, the event planning group responsible for the annual Common Ground Music Festival, has relocated to a house at 901 N. Washington Ave. in Old Town.

"There are a lot of creative elements in Old Town," says Kevin Meyer, President of MEG and Executive Director of Common Ground. "It was a natural fit."

Prior to moving into the 2,800 sq. ft. house, MEG was stationed in the Lansing City Market. "We grew while we were there," Meyer says of MEG's old location at the City Market, and "more space," was a key factor in the move. "We had been in the City Market since 2000," says Meyer. "We had to find a new home."

The new home of MEG and Common Ground is a house built around 1901. A family lived in the house until the 1980s, when it became an office. Because it had already been an office, MEG did not have to do any remodeling. "[There was] no build out needed," says Meyer, "and that's what attracted us."

MEG is now located close to Riverfront Park, where the Common Ground Festival is held each summer. "We love the location on the corner," says Meyer, adding that MEG plans to stay in Lansing and hopes to be around to celebrate Common Ground's 20th anniversary.

Source: Kevin Meyer

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

A popular Eastside Lansing eatery, the Soup Spoon Cafe, is expanding.

"We're moving into the suite to the east," says owner and head chef, Nick Gavrilides.

Business has been picking up lately and Gavrilides wants to seat as many as he can, "We're expanding the dining room and we'll be adding 20 to 30 new seats." The construction will nearly double the size of the Soup Spoon Cafe's dining room.

The expansion involves breaking down the wall between the Soup Spoon Cafe and its eastern neighbor. Gavrilides is optimistic the construction will be completed quickly, "We want to be serving by the last week of March."

Gavrilides is hoping to lure in large groups with the new expansion.

"We can better serve bigger tables of 15 to 20 people," he says. But the big groups are not his only focus; he see the expansion as a way to help handle the growing lunch crowd, "I want people to be able to get in and out quickly for lunch."

Space is not the only thing expanding at the Soup Spoon Cafe. Gavrilides says he will be adding an espresso bar, and will offer a "French press coffee of the day."

He also says the new space will allow for large lunch meetings with banquet tables.

Source: Nick Gavrilides

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

The Leslie Area Education Foundation (LAEF) is working on a brand new nature center.

"We were approached by a former Leslie High School graduate in Texas who wanted to memorialize their mother and sister," says Sue Lahtrop, President of LAEF, adding that the alumnus gave a gift of $100,000 toward the project. The proposed nature center would be built on land eight miles south of Leslie, which Lahtrop describes as "100 acres of beauty."

"We can impact more children for a longer period of time," Lathrop says of the educational nature center.

In addition to funds from the former LHS graduate, LAEF has received a $400,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. LAEF applied twice before finally winning the grant.

The nature center will feature a 1,500 sq. ft. building as well as trails. K-12 students of Leslie will make field trips to the nature center, and Lahtrop said other schools can make use of the building for a rental fee.

Surveying of the grounds is complete and Lathrop says she hopes the construction will be put out to bid within 30 days.

"We hope to have it complete by mid-fall and have it ready for the 2010-2011 school year," she says.

The total cost of the center is estimated at $620,000.

Source: Sue Lathrop

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

The REO Town-based architecture firm, Studio Intrigue, celebrated its seventh anniversary on March 3. The firm started in Okemos but moved to REO Town in 2006. The current location of Studio Intrigue is a building they were already working on. "[We were] already renovating, so it made the most sense to move in," explains David Vanderklok of Studio Intrigue.

Beautifying Michigan's Capital City was part of Studio Intrigue's plan from day one, says Vanderklok. "Urban revitalization was our A1 priority. We had our sights set dead on Lansing."

The firm has been a big part of Lansing's facelift in recent years, including work on the original Troppo restaurant Downtown and the Technology Innovation Center in East Lansing. They were also part of the design team for the Stadium District.

Recently, Studio Intrigue helped make Enso a reality. "[Enso was] the most fun one we've done on a small scale," Vanderklok says of the 6,000 sq. ft. restaurant and nightclub.

On March 10, Studio Intrigue, along with A&G Partnership LLC, unveiled plans for a eight story high-rise in East Lansing.

But no matter how successful Studio Intrigue becomes, Vanderklok says they are not going anywhere. "We will always be here," he says. "This is always where our headquarters will be."

Studio Intrigue is located at 1114 South Washington Ave.

Source: David Vanderklok

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

A pair of Lansing residents have started up their own Lansing-centric news aggregator website, Yakimbe.com.

"Stuff was missing," says the site's founder and CEO, Jesse Woodruff of other news sites
 web coverage of Lansing. He would use popular story sharing sites such as Digg and Reddit, but they lacked a local focus. "[Local] things were not getting press," he says.

Yakimbe is similar to Digg and Reddit, in that users can submit links to news stories from around the Internet. These stories can be given a "thumbs up " or "thumbs down" vote.

There is just one catch: local stories only.

"There are plenty of places for national news," says Woodruff. "We want to get a conversation going about these topics."

Woodruff met co-founder and CTO John Bruce at Lansing Community College, and eventually the idea of Yakimbe came up.

"John's an excellent programmer," Woodruff says of Bruce, who built the engine that drives Yakimbe.

The beta testing launch for Yakimbe was March 5th—the same night as Ignite Lansing 3.0, which Woodruff and Bruce both attended. At the event, the pair handed out fliers with a special code that allowed visitors to create profiles on the site. After creating a profile, they could submit their links.

Yakimbe is now open to everyone.

Source: Jesse Woodruff

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

A Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Rental Rehabilitation Project looks to increase the number of available apartments in downtown Grand Ledge. The apartments are located above businesses downtown.

"We're excited," says Kalmin Smith, mayor of Grand Ledge. The total funds are a combination of $323,500 in Community Development Block Grant Rental Rehabilitation funds and $140,000 in Leverage Funds from Grand Ledge businesses. The funds allow for 10 new apartments downtown.

"We're kind of bystanders," says Mayor Smith, explaining that, per the project requirements, a third party has to decide on the construction contracts, so "the city doesn't decide who does the construction."

A similar project took place in Eaton Rapids. "That attracted our attention," says Mayor Smith "And we liked what we saw."

The project is currently at the environmental review stage, in which any possible environmental impact issues of the rehabilitation project are determined. After this stage, funds will start being released. $35,000 will be allotted for each new apartment. One of the premier locations could have four or five apartments alone. Restoring older apartments is a possibility, but those projects will receive fewer funds.

"We'll have more people downtown, it will help to stabilize downtown and bring in more revenue," Mayor Smith says of the 10 planned apartments.

Grand Ledge's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade is this Saturday and its route goes past many of the proposed locations.   

Source: Mayor Kalmin Smith

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

Little Scholars Preparatory School will be opening its doors in Downtown Lansing in late April or early May.

The school is "very small and elite," says founder and owner Audrey Pallone. "We are only taking four kids under the age of two-and-a-half, and 12 over the age of two and a half."

Pallone invested $12,000 into a three-story building located at 416 W. Ottawa. The bulk of the investment went toward getting the building up to code. The children will only occupy the 1,000 sq. ft. first floor, and Pallone says, "we're making sure the fixtures are safe for kids."

"Local day cares have waiting lists," she says of her inspiration to open the school. A lack of day care options Downtown was another reason.

"There is a big crowd of young professionals in stages of having kids," Pallone says. Her focus is to target professionals that work Downtown with extended hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. "That helps parents who have different hours," explains Pallone.

"There will be three teachers," explains Pallone, each certified and licensed to teach in Michigan. "Your child is going to be learning," says Pallone, who taught first grade for five years at a charter school. The curriculum will feature reading, math, writing and music, as well as character education.

Little Scholars is located at 416 W. Ottawa, half a block West of the Capitol. Online enrollment is open now.

Source: Audrey Pallone

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

Ted Wilson, owner of Replay Entertainment Exchange in East Lansing has added an online apparel service: Michigan Shirt Works. Wilson says the service goes beyond printing shirts to sell in his store. "We provide web fulfillment for people wanting apparel," he says.

The concept is that a person, band or business can partner with Michigan Shirt Works to handle production and distribution of apparel. The site offers locked-in printing rates as well as "Baker's Dozen Pricing"—every 13th shirt is free when you order 12.

Michigan Shirt Works offers in-store pick up (at Replay) or on-site drop off anywhere in the Capital region. Wilson says they will drop off shirts at your event. Michigan Shirt Works will even design apparel for you.

"In five years I want to be the Threadless of Michigan," Wilson says, referring to the popular apparel website based in Chicago.

Michigan Shirt Works provides apparel for Mid-Michigan businesses and bands, such as the radio station 94.1 FM The Edge and the Lansing-based band, Year 200X.

Wilson sees Michigan Shirt Works as an investment in his future as more and more media becomes available online. "You can't download a t-shirt," he says.

Michigan Shirt Works and Replay Entertainment Exchange are located at 1385 E. Grand River Ave.

Source: Ted Wilson

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

A new candy shop opened its doors in Williamston last month: Fabinelli's Handmade Candy Shoppe.

"Business has been wonderful," says Nichole Stiffler, a co-owner of Fabinelli's along with her sister and husband. The new Fabinelli's moved into a pre-existing space in Keller's Plaza. "We get a lot of foot traffic because we are in a plaza with other businesses," explains Stiffler. "The hair salon next door brings us new customers every day."

Stiffler worked at a previous candy store in Williamston, owned by her family. "My father opened the [previous] store in 1996 and sold it a few years later to his mother and sister." After selling the old store, Stiffler and her father moved north to open another business while she attended school.

Eventually, Stiffler wanted to open her own store. "It was time to open up my own place with the help of my sister, husband and my mentor—my mentor being my father," she says. "This place wouldn't be together if it wasn't for him in my ear every day, saying you have to do this or that!"

Stiffler is a one-woman army when it comes to candy making, "I am the only employee," she says. "I believe you have to run your own business to make it work." And she is happy to be back in Williamston. "When I was given the opportunity to open a new store of my own, I knew it had to be in Williamston," says Stiffler. "The town is great, the people are great, and the business is in a great spot."

Fabinelli's Handmade Candy Shoppe is located at 107 S. Putnam St.

Source: Nichole Stiffler

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

Haze Art Gallery has relocated for what owner Hazel Hotwagner calls, "the final time."

This is the third move for Haze Art Gallery and its studio. Hotwagner moved her gallery and ceramics studio into two separate but neighboring buildings in Old Town: 304 and 306 Grand River Ave. The move netted Hotwagner more studio space for "classes, parties and all kinds of goodies."

The additional studio space was not the only benefit of the relocation.  "[We have] a beautiful courtyard in the back," says Hotwagner.

She hopes to use the courtyard for events once the weather warms up. Being on Grand River Ave. has also increased foot traffic for the gallery and studio.

Haze Gallery is unique in that it is a rent-based gallery, and not commission based. An artist pays to have their work displayed instead of giving a portion of their sales to the gallery owner. "We're the only one like it in the state," says Hotwagner. "60% of our artists have been around for over five years."

This coming May marks the 14th anniversary of the gallery and the seventh of the studio. The gallery and studio moved this past October.

Source: Hazel Hotwagner

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie

The Lansing City Market has added a new vendor, City Fish. "The opportunity was there," says co-owner Stephen Joseph. City Fish resides in a 17 ft by 14 ft space in the new City Market Building, located at 325 City Market Dr.

"We try to put emphasis on Great Lakes fish," Joseph says of City Fish's offerings. "Everything from the Great Lakes is available or can be ordered." A large cooler houses a cornucopia of fresh fish by the register, which is restocked every two days.

Joseph handles all of the duties himself. "We wanted someone full time," he says, adding that he hopes to add additional staff soon.

City Fish's offerings are not limited to the bounty of the Great Lakes either. "We will be adding beer and wine," says Joseph. City Fish also sells many all natural Michigan organic foodstuffs, including the Honey Boy Bob line of products. Specialty chip dips are also available, and are kept in the cooler along with the fish.

"Trout is pretty popular," Joseph says when asked which of his fish is the best seller, but he adds that whitefish is another favorite. City Fish can also special order fish for customers, Joseph explains as he points to a full red snapper in the cooler waiting to be picked up by a customer.
 
Source: Stephen Joseph

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

"Busy—all kinds of stuff going on," Jeff McWherter responds when asked how business has been.

McWherter started Gravity Works Design & Development with his friend Amelia Marschall, who serves as the shop's creative director. Gravity Works went live at the end of January, and things could not be better. "We have 15 clients already," says McWherter, who is a partner and director of development.

The start-up company offers "a full cycle of branding for companies," explains McWherter. Gravity Works can generate logos, websites and stationary to name a few, as well as applications for mobile devices such as Android phones and iPhones.

Despite all of their early success, Gravity Works is still waiting for a real office. "[We're] the first virtual tenant of the TIC," says McWherter, adding that Gravity Works is at the top of the list to move into the East Lansing business incubator when space becomes available.

Until then, the Gravity Works team meets with clients either on site or at Gone Wired Cafe on Lansing's Eastside, and sometimes at a nearby Biggby Coffee.

McWherter and Marschall both left their old jobs to form Gravity Works, and the pair worked together before. "We decided we wanted to go into business together," explains McWherter.

Even without an office, McWherter is already planning on expanding the fledgling company. "We definitely want to grow," he says, but he cautions other start-up companies that "some grow too fast." McWherter says that Gravity Works will grow, but cautiously.

Whatever the future holds for Gravity Works, McWherter and Marschall are not going anywhere. "Somewhere around here," McWherter says when asked where Gravity Works will move after they outgrow the TIC.

"We're sticking around Lansing or East Lansing."
 
Source: Jeff McWherter

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan

Lansing citizens have a new restaurant to get breakfast or lunch: the Brunch House. Located at the corner of Hazel and Pennsylvania, the Brunch House used to be the Home Town Diner. "[The] space was available," says owner Leo Farhat, Jr.

There was not much downtime between the change over: the Home Town Diner closed for good on Dec. 24th and the Brunch House opened for business on Dec. 28th. "I've been here every day since we opened," says Farhat.

There has been no shortage of mouths to feed since the Brunch House opened its doors. Farhat says that business has been "better every week," adding that he has had to hire additional staff.

"[I've] hired four more since opening," he says.

The new hires include an additional cook and more waitresses.

The Brunch House is smoke free and has plenty of seating, allowing for large early morning meetings.

Farhat describes the clientele as "a blend of everybody." Construction workers, lobbyists, doctors—they all frequent the Brunch House.

The restaurant's hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but Farhat wants to start opening at 6:00 a.m. soon, so he can lure in more early morning meetings.

What gives the Brunch House a unique edge over similar restaurants around town is its menu: it not only features standard breakfast and lunch offerings, but Lebanese food as well. Wednesday's special is homemade cabbage rolls, which Farhat helps make. Another favorite is Lebanese style seasoned beef with pine nuts, mixed with scrambled eggs.

The Brunch House is located at 1040 South Pennsylvania Ave.

Source: Leo Farhat, Jr.

Writer: Daniel J. Hogan 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie