Downtown Mt. Clemens welcomes new businesses
Source: metromode, 11/19/2009
If small business is the lifeblood of any downtown, then Mt. Clemens has some good pressure in its system these days.
The
Macomb County seat just welcomed two new businesses to its vibrant city
center this month. Madea Lounge is a new nightclub looking to take
advantage of the downtown's booming night life and Detroit Burger
Company plans to go after the established restaurant business.
Madea
Lounge is located at 75 Macomb Place next to the Bath City Bistro. The
contemporary lounge is smoke free and does serve some appetizers.
Detroit Burger Company also opened in a former restaurant space at 39 N
Main.
Source: Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Brownfield tax credits OK'd for Station 65 in Mount Clemens
Source: metromode, 10/29/2009
The Station 65 project in downtown Mt.
Clemens took another step forward this week when the state approved the
brownfield tax credits for its redevelopment.
Downtown Mt. Clemens-based Partners in Architecture is working to turn the historic Firehouse No. 2
into its new headquarters. The 16-person-firm (including interns) plans
to turn the second floor and part of the first floor into its offices.
The remainder will be available for retail or office uses.
"The rest of the first floor is still available for lease," says Mike Malone, a partner with Partners in Architecture.
The nearly century-old building is across the street from the New Street Lofts.
The ornate structure dates back to the turn of the 20th Century. It
went from being a fire station to offices to a combination of office
and commercial space. Plans to turn it into lofts had been discussed
before Partners in Architecture, which rents space less than a block
away, bought it.
The firm plans to put an extensive green roof
on the 2-story building so its employees can use it as a green space to
relax. The plans also call for removing part of the second floor to
make office interiors visible. Work is set to begin within the next few weeks and wrap up by next spring.
Source: Mike Malone, a partner with Partners in Architecture
Writer: Jon Zemke
Mt. Clemens moves forward with property showcase
Source: metromode, 9/17/2009
Downtown Mount Clemens stakeholders want to show just what the center of their city is capable of.
The
city will be holding its Downtown Mount Clemens Property Tour on
Thursday, Sept. 24, the same day as its annual ArtParty. The tour will
feature 30 move-in ready commercial properties inside the downtown.
Mount
Clemens has gone through a bit of a business growth spurt this year,
welcoming five new or expanded businesses. More are also in the works,
but that doesn't mean there isn't room to grow in the central business
district. Holding the tour during one of its major events is expected
to show just how fertile the area is these days.
"We really
wanted to showcase downtown Mt. Clemens when we have a lot of people on
the streets," says Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mount
Clemens Downtown Development Authority. "We feel it's a great way for
people to come and experience the downtown and talk to the people
there."
The tour will be self-guided, with docents at individual
properties and extensive information packets detailing support
services, benefits, and demographics. Goodie bags with gift items from
several businesses and information packs highlighting the community,
its strengths, and why it is such a good investment will also be given
away.
The event will be held from 3-7 p.m. at the ArtParty's
welcome center, 61 Macomb Place. For information about the Downtown
Mount Clemens Property Tour, contact Arthur Mullen at (586) 469-4168 or
afmullen2@yahoo.com.
Source: Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
5 businesses open/expand in downtown Mt. Clemens
Source: metromode, 9/10/2009
Downtown Mt. Clemens is on a bit of a hot streak when it comes to new businesses lately.
The
Macomb County seat's downtown has welcomed three new retailers and a
restaurant into the fold. It has also helped one more business expand
so far this year. All of these are locally owned mom-and-pop shops in a
downtown dominated by similar companies.
Such little boutique
businesses are considered the lifeblood to a making a suburban central
business district vibrant, which makes communities attractive to the
chain stores of mainstream America.
The latest addition is
Champagne Chocolates Too, a gourmet chocolatier that opened this month.
It sells house-made ice-cream, scones and biscotti, coffee and other
treats. Debbie Heuchert, who also owns the shop next door (Champagne
Chocolates), decided to open another after growing tired of looking at
an empty storefront at 58 Cherry St. Mall.
Source: Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Mt. Clemens showcases downtown with real-estate open house
Source: metromode, 8/6/2009
Downtown Mt. Clemens has a lot to brag
about when it comes to vibrancy and innovation, and it plans on
showcasing all this fall for its Downtown Mt. Clemens Property Tour.
The
property tour will show off primarily commercial space that is
available for lease in the city's center. The tour will also feature
representatives from local banks, Macomb County’s Small Business
Training Center, and local realtors who can provide assistance.
The property tour will be held Sept. 24, at the same time as The Art Party, a big fundraiser for the Anton Art Center.
"We
really wanted to showcase Mt. Clemens when we have something big going
on," says Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown
Development Authority.
Right now the Mt. Clemens DDA is looking
for landlords to participate in this event. A property owner
informational meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Anton
Art Center, 125 Macomb Pl. For information, send an email to afmullen2@yahoo.com or call (586) 469-4168.
Source: Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke
Mt. Clemens Falcon Cam witnesses birth of 2 falcons
Source: metromode, 7/23/2009
If you didn't pay attention to the Falcon Cam this spring then you missed not only one miracle but two.
That's
how many baby falcons were born and raised on one of downtown Mt.
Clemens' highest perches – the 11th floor of the Macomb County
building. Hathor and Nick, Peregrine Falcons, are teaching their two not-so-little-anymore hatchlings how to fly and hunt over the Macomb County seat right now.
"They're just hanging around the building, flying around," says Phil Frame, a spokesman for Macomb County.
Frame
set up a web cam just inside of the window, a few feet from the nest.
It gives an up-close view of the birds' life to anyone with an Internet
connection, and has been up and running since 2005 when Hathor set up
her first nest. It also served as the county's first webcast.
Source: Phil Frame, spokesman for Macomb County
Writer: Jon Zemke
Bizarre Bazaar comes to downtown Mt. Clemens
Source: metromode, 5/14/2009
Most downtown districts hope to attract high-end retail through foot traffic. Downtown Mt. Clemens is turning that bit of conventional wisdom on its head this summer with its new Bizarre Bazaar.
The bazaar is a flea market held in the North Roskopp parking lot from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday during warm weather. The idea is to use it as a way of giving more people an excuse to come downtown, bringing in more foot traffic to patronize the existing brick and mortar businesses.
"We are a great downtown and I think people forget," says Diane Kubik, the Bizarre Bazaar boss and owner of Max & Ollie's Vintage Boutique in downtown Mt. Clemens. "We want to give them another reason to come downtown."
She hopes the bazaar will bring a few thousand feet more through downtown each Saturday to visit the flea market vendors. Vendors can set up shop at the bazaar for between $11 and $22.
Source: Diane Kubik, boss of the Bizarre Bazaar and owner of Max & Ollie's Vintage Boutique
Writer: Jon Zemke
New signs in Mt. Clemens ease way-finding
Source: metromode, 5/14/2009
Getting in and out of downtown Mt. Clemens will become easier, starting this year.
City
officials are looking at phasing in a variety of way-finding signs,
including "You are here" markers for pedestrians and directions
pointing the way downtown from the city's major arteries.
"That's
the next step, how many signs and where," says Arthur Mullen, executive
director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority.
The
DDA has budgeted $35,000 for the project for this year and next. It
hopes to have all of the signs up within the next few years.
Source: Arthur Mullen, executive director of the Mt. Clemens Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke