East side upswing

One of Lansing’s prime commercial blocks outside of downtown and the home of Emil’s, the city’s oldest restaurant, has been purchased by developer Scott Gillespie.

And across the street on the next block, developer/restaurateur Kris Elliott has bought an old PNC Bank building with plans to turn it into a brewpub.

Gillespie, president of the Gillespie Co., recently completed his purchase of the entire south side of the 2000 block of Michigan Avenue from various owners for $904,600, according to public records, and will likely incorporate mixed-use retail/apartment development with the existing businesses.

Meanwhile Elliott plans to build a neighborhood brewpub kitty-corner from Gillespie’s block.

“(My company has) been paying close attention to this neighborhood for years and … been waiting for the right property and concept,” said Elliott in an email. “(We) really like the energy that this stretch of Michigan Avenue has been able to maintain and we look forward to repurposing a vacant property and being a healthy addition to the east side business community.”

That vacant property is the former PNC Bank location, 2101 E. Michigan Ave., which Elliott’s company, Evergreen Companies, purchased in March for $236,000. Evergreen built East Lansing’s St. Anne Luxury Lofts and downtown Lansing’s Troppo building, among other projects.

Pending an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act — OPRA — designation, Elliott will renovate the existing bank, with the roof serving as a walkout patio for a new warehousestyle attachment he plans to build behind it. He said the brewpub — unnamed for now — will have a full menu featuring smoked meats, wood-fired pizza and traditional comfort food, with a full bar specializing in Michigan wines, spirits and craft beer brewed on-site. No start date for construction has been set.

Brewpubs are a popular concept lately; three have opened in Metro Lansing in as many years, with three more on the horizon. Elliott already has elevations drawn up for what seems like a foolproof business.

Gillespie, however, still hasn’t cemented his plans, and seems to be open to suggestions.

“I’m looking at different things and talking with architects, trying to figure out my options for what I can do and what community needs,” Gillespie said. “But most importantly, I’m going to be (opening a discussion) with the community to find out what their needs are.”

Gillespie is the brother of Pat Gillespie, whose separate company Gillespie Group has developed such projects as the Stadium District and Market Place in downtown Lansing as well as Midtown Apartments farther east on Michigan Avenue.

Scott Gillespie developed a retail/residential complex at Michigan and Marshall Street, two blocks west of his new project.

Gillespie spent the last two years slowly accumulating his properties, from the vacant barbershop on the Clemens Avenue side to Wild Strawberry Florist on the Fairview Avenue end.

The last few years has seen the north side of that block finally lock all of its pieces into place, including the arrival of two Chinese restaurants, Asian Gourmet and China Flavor; a pizzeria, Toarmina´s Pizza; and a gourmet café, Strange Matter Coffee Co. The Avenue Café has successfully transitioned from a coffeehouse to a bar/performance space, while the Green Door Blues Bar & Grill has continued to thrive as a live music venue. Bill Leech Repair Service, the Bead Boutique and EVERYbody Reads, Books and Stuff round out a bustling stretch of real estate.

Last summer, placemaking consultant Gil White used grant money to introduce the concept of parklets to the neighborhood, transforming two parallel parking spots along Michigan Avenue into hangout spots where folks could sit under umbrellas or bang around on a sidewalk piano.

“It proved that this area is a vibrant community, and that all it took for people to gather together was a little encouragement,” White said. “The 2000 block is unique because it’s the only part of Michigan Avenue that has retail on both sides. It’s got everything in place to be a pedestrian-friendly social hub.”

But the south side has languished — only five of the Gillespie’s 10 storefronts are occupied. Next to Wild Strawberry, there’s Local Tattoo, then the Original Okinawa Karate Dojo, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and Capital City Homebrew Supply. Then there is Emil’s Italian Restaurant, which opened in 1921. Last November, owner Paul Grescowle sold the building to Gillespie; he now has a month-to-month lease. (All four tenants have signed leases with Gillespie.)

Grescowle, grandson of the original owner, has spent the last two years working on exterior upgrades. He said with his new landlord in position, he’ll finally be able to finish the work, which include new awnings, a new color scheme and a new front door.

“It’s time the east side got a face lift,” Grescowle said. “I’m happy for REO Town and Old Town, but I’ve been patiently waiting for the east side to perk up, and it looks like it’s finally happening. I’m ecstatic.”

The Emil’s building had been for sale since 2012, prompting rumors that it was closing, but Grescowle has always been adamant that Lansing’s oldest continuously operating restaurant is staying put. And Grescowle had nothing but praise for Gillespie.

“Scott is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” Grewscowle said. “He’s not your typical developer, and I think his plans for the future are outstanding. My belief is that he’s going to level some, but he’s not touching Emil’s. He’s building around it.”

Grescowle says he’d like to see some apartments go in around him (“Living quarters would help me a lot”), a sentiment shared by Rick Kibbey, the unofficial historian for the East Side Neighborhood.

“Obviously Sparrow (Hospital) and (Frandor Shopping Center) are the biggest inhabitants of Michigan Avenue by volume, but when you’re looking at the everyday interaction with the community, (the 2000 block) is the most important block on the street,” Kibbey said. “There used to be the Lindemann’s meat market here, and Emil’s had lines out the door. This block served as the community center. Over the years that sort of went away, but what we’re seeing is a re-densifying.”

Kibbey also praised Gillespie’s eagerness to seek out public opinion, a sentiment echoed by Joan Nelson, director of the nearby Allen Neighborhood Center.

“There are pockets of strength popping up all over, and the areas that require attention are shrinking,” Nelson said. “Over the next five years, I think those trends will continue, and with projects like (Elliott’s brewpub) and Scott’s plans, you’re going to see Michigan Avenue grow even healthier. It took a while, but good things are starting to happen again.”