Appreciation post: The old building on Grand River looks completely different now

I drove past that empty brick spot near the old train station for years. Last month, a new coffee shop opened there with big windows and a patio. The owner told me she got a city grant to fix the front and put in new lights. It went from a boarded up place to a spot where people actually hang out in under six months. Anyone know other small grants for fixing up storefronts?

3 comments

3 Comments

uma_williams2mo ago

Honestly, it just looks like another generic coffee place now (the old brick had way more character).

ray3562mo ago

Totally get what you mean about the brick. Saw the same thing happen to a spot on my old block. The trick is to go in and talk to the manager, not just a barista. Tell them straight up that the regulars miss the old feel. Sometimes they just don't realize what they lost until customers speak up. It's a long shot, but it's the only way they might add some character back.

jamie9402mo ago

Did you see that article in the local paper about the new facade improvement program? It listed a few small grants for exactly that.