Williamston may always be a small spot on the Capital region map, but it’s becoming a more relevant one.
The growing downtown entertainment district, new businesses and a growing professional class make this old-fashioned community stand out.
Perhaps the most telling sign of the area’s revitalization was the August grand opening of the upscale RiverHouse Inn restaurant.
Restaurant owner, Sue Nichimi and her partner, Scott Simonds, opened the restaurant after completing extensive renovations of the stately property. Riverside dining and an upscale menu have turned the RiverHouse into a destination spot for the region.
“We had a wine tasting event last night and it brought in around 100 people,” Nichani says. “Many of them came in from Okemos, Haslett, East Lansing, Howell, Novi, Northville, and Brighton. We’re a destination spot.”
Part of RiverHouse Inn’s success is derived from the owners’ desire to appeal to a younger crowd. RiverHouse Inn General Manager Marc Wolbert says having wireless internet draws in a lot of customers.
“We have motorcyclists and travelers who bring their computers out on the patio, as well local business women and men who come to have business luncheons.”
The restaurant is just one business adding to Williamston’s growing reputation.
Gracie’s Place,
D & W Fresh Market, the
Williamston Theatre,
Sequels Consignment Boutique,
N’vious Fashion & Accessories, Crazy Horse Southwestern Jewelry, Rumorz and the renovated Williamston Bucket bar are also among the list of businesses that have added to this growing resurgence.
Filling the StorefrontsWilliamston has long cultivated a reputation as one of the best antique markets in the U.S., but that also contributed to an aging image; a bit of a fading rose. Since the downtown’s resurgence and focus on unique venues and young professionals, perceptions have changed. Williamston is now beginning to have the appeal of popular tourist spots like Saugatuck or Northville.
The expanding business climate is part of stepped up efforts by the city to bring visitors into the area. Barbara Burke with the
Williamston Chamber of Commerce says the city’s destination spots make Williamston more attractive to businesses and residents.
What Northville and Saugatuck have in common are unique venues and thriving pedestrian storefronts, a success Williamston has made a real effort to emulate in the last year.
The RiverHouse, Gracie’s Place, D & W Fresh Market, N’vious Fashions and the Williamston Theater have all increased the real estate market in downtown Williamston, giving residents access to unique amenities that attract people to a downtown.
The new D & W Fresh Market gives Williamston residents access to an upscale grocery store, while the award-winning Williamston Theater gives them access to area talent.
Another booming business on Putnam Street is
Ghinelli’s Ice Cream and Candy Shop. The artisan chocolatier recently merged with
Alice’s Kandy & Korn of Mackinac City, MI, a partnership that will enable the export of Ghinelli’s homemade ice cream and candy to the north country, and bringing the famous Mackinac Fudge to Williamston.
Rebuilding and Entertaining
One important component of revitalizing the downtown is renovating rather than tearing down the historic old buildings, says Michelle Aniol, director of Williamston’s community development efforts.
Like the RiverHouse’s owners, Gracie’s Place Owner Dawn-Marie Joseph attempted to keep the historic integrity of her building. The 151 South Putnam Street building kept distressed wood floors and white walls, all designed to make it look like an old-fashioned general store.
The owners of Bloom, a quaint boutique in downtown Williamston, renovated their building, turning the first floor into retail space and the upstairs into living space.
Encouraging residents to shop, eat and play in Williamston is important, but so are tourism dollars.
The city recently hosted a themed “Girlfriend’s Night in Williamston” event, luring ladies downtown with a showing of
Sex and the City at the
Sun Theater and
Tally’s Folly at the Williamston Theatre. To honor the ladies and their influx of dollars, fashion boutiques stayed open later; a local hair salon offered massages and hair styling specials; Gracie’s Place served pink frosted cup cakes; and the RiverHouse Inn served upscale Cosmo cocktails.
“Williamston is unique in that it has a small entertainment district,” says Aniol. “The Williamston Theater and the Sun Theater are thriving in downtown Williamston and it creates promotional opportunities for the local businesses.”
$16 Million RewardMuch of the downtown growth comes from the dynamic exchange between the local business community and progressive city officials. These groups are working together to develop innovative solutions to bring the downtown back to life and improve the business climate.
The city’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA), for example, is improving the city’s infrastructure, while the city is working to attract new businesses. And prospective business owners are seeing the value.
Lisa Hitchcock, Williamston’s city manager, says the business-friendly climate was rewarded when
Tri-State Hospital Supply decided to locate its 75,000 square foot, $16 million headquarters in the city’s industrial park.
City officials worked with the
Tri-County Regional Planning Commission to get funding for an economic development grant to build the water, roads, and sewer for the park.
“The city is ecstatic about their establishment in the industrial park; this is true expansion of their business into Williamston, so there is not another community losing jobs,” Aniol says.
President of Tri-State Hospital Supply, Tom Archipley ll, says 130 of the 270 employees now located at the Howell site will relocate to the new Williamston headquarters when it is completed.
The new building will house the company’s administrative offices and is designed for 200 employees, so they will likely be expanding.
With new businesses filling both the downtown and the commercial park, Williamston officials have time to focus on the one building they’ve been trying to rehab for some time. The city is actively looking for a new retail buyer for the 109 Grand River building just past the light at city’s downtown intersection at Putnam Street.
Aniol said 30 people attended the recent visioning workshop held by the city to brainstorm for ideas to sell the gracious old building.
“If we got a retailer on the first floor it would bring even more pedestrian business downtown,” Aniol said.
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Lynne Crandall is columnist, writer, broadcast journalist and press consultant. She lives in Okemos and can be reached
here.
Dave Trumpie is the managing photographer for Capital Gains. He is a freelance photographer and owner of Trumpie Photography.
Photos:
Downtown Williamston
The patio at The Riverhouse
John Lepard's Williamston Theatre
Gracie's Place
President of Tri-State Hospital Supply, Tom Archipley ll with renderings of the new building
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie