Crain's Grand Rapids Business

The founders of a Grandville-based commercial plumbing company are set to break ground on a 144-unit affordable housing project in a small Barry County village that local employers and business advocates say will help attract talent to the area. Doing business as Dutch Developers LLC, brothers Nate, Eric and Josh Heyboer will host a groundbreaking ceremony on March 27 for the $25 million MidVilla Flats project. The project will add 144 units of workforce housing, which targets people in the 80% to 120% area median income bracket, according to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gSG4GWc6

A Michigan-based, woman-owned spirits company is suing a cocktail brand with ties to supermodel Kate Upton, alleging the “venture-backed behemoth” copied its name and is creating confusion in the market. In the federal lawsuit, Dexter-based Highline Spirits Co. LLC claims Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.-based Vosa Spirits LLC committed “willful infringement” of its trademark by marketing a line of “High Line” ready to drink cocktails. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gdi6F9gz

We had a great turnout for this morning's Crain's Grand Rapids Business Power Breakfast at Cascade Hills Country Club. Managing Editor Andy Balaskovitz led a conversation on the impact of sports in West Michigan, covering everything from corporate partnerships to the links with the major league franchises to the rising popularity of women's sports. Special thanks to our panelists: Steve Jbara of the Grand Rapids Gold, Mike Guswiler of the West Michigan Sports Commission, Joe Chamberlin of the West Michigan Whitecaps and Scott Gorsline of DP FOX HOLDINGS, L.L.C (Grand Rapids Griffins and Grand Rapids Rise). #business #sports #westmichigan #crainevents Photo: Susan Bakkila

Post Off, a Grand Rapids-based wine bar, has closed permanently and will transition to Hard Times, a new concept offering drinks priced at less than $10. The natural wine and amaro bar, located at 952 E. Fulton St., closed permanently Monday, citing two years of sluggish sales. The location will reopen by mid April as an efficiently-priced cocktail spot called Hard Times as the bar’s operators take a cue from customers aiming to save money and still have a night out, Director of Operations Pablo Mata told Crain’s Grand Rapids Business. “We are in difficult economic times, and we want to listen to our guests,” Mata said. He manages operations for owner Bernard Kersten’s stable of Grand Rapids bars, including adjacent cocktail bar Buffalo Traders Lounge, Italian restaurant Big O’s Cafe and downtown lounge Sidebar. “What (customers) are expressing to us is that they still want to go out, they still want a third place for people to be able to gather, and we want to listen,” Mata said. “Customers in the community want to be in these (bars) in Midtown, but aren’t necessarily equipped to spend $20 on a cocktail.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gvCGecbm

Déjà vu: the Grand Rapids Planning Commission has once again tabled Corewell Health's request to tear down vacant buildings to build more surface parking lot spaces by its offices.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport has added its eighth commercial airline with two initial nonstop routes and potential for more in the future. Officials announced today that budget carrier Avelo Airlines will start service this spring to and from North Carolina’s Research Triangle, with nonstop routes to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and to central Florida, via Lakeland International Airport in Lakeland, Fla. One-way fares for the twice-weekly flights, which can be booked now, will start at an introductory discounted rate of $59 until March 17. Service to Raleigh-Durham, N.C. will start on May 23, and flights to Lakeland will begin June 13. The routes, which will utilize the Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft with a capacity of up to 189 passengers, will run Mondays and Fridays. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gq39rGYr

Calling all residential real estate leaders in West Michigan! 🏡 📈 Crain’s Grand Rapids Business is compiling its annual list of the largest residential real estate brokerages in West Michigan, ranked by 2024 gross sales. Brokerages with offices in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Allegan, or Kalamazoo counties are encouraged to apply. Find out more information and how to apply by clicking link below. https://lnkd.in/g3JuNGCG #WestMichigan #RealEstate #GrandRapids 

The DeVos and Van Andel families were named Newsmaker of the Year for their $797 million Fulton and Market development planned along the waterfront downtown. Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Editor Joe Boomgaard talked with the families’ lead consultants on the project, Brad Thomas and Joe Agostinelli, CEcD, during our event at the Amway Grand Plaza hotel on Thursday. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e55TKVyp

What a fun morning of connecting with and recognizing West Michigan business leaders at the annual Crain's Grand Rapids Business Newsmakers of the Year event. We announced Newsmakers in 16 categories – ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to technology and real estate. In addition, we unveiled the overall Newsmaker of the Year: the DeVos and Van Andel families for the massive proposed project at Fulton & Market that is poised to reshape the downtown Grand Rapids skyline with three new towers. At the event, project representatives Brad Thomas and Joe Agostinelli, CEcD sat down with Crain's Grand Rapids Editor Joe Boomgaard to offer the latest details of where the visionary development stands in the approval process. #grandrapids #business #leadership #crainevents Photos: Justin Razmus Read the news story about today’s event here: https://lnkd.in/gzrVF7mE

West Michigan showed up en masse this morning for the Crain's Grand Rapids Business Newsmakers event, a celebration of the people and companies who made headlines last year. Along with Mickey Ciokajlo, I had the privilege of helping emcee the event and introduce the Newsmakers across 16 local industries. They all shared a few thoughts, which provided a healthy dose of positive vibes for what’s going on in our community. It also was great to chat on stage with Brad Thomas and Joe Agostinelli, the project representatives for the DeVos and Van Andel families, the overall Newsmakers of the Year, in recognition for the proposed three-tower Fulton and Market development, which promises to redefine the Grand Rapids skyline if it comes to fruition. To read about what they said and find out who we selected as Newsmakers, check out this story from Kate Carlson. https://lnkd.in/gKh72ueA