When it comes to rebuilding a thriving downtown district, Holly is looking to the future while continuing to embrace its past.
The village recently welcomed four new businesses to its historic "Main
Street" district, already dotted with antique dealers, clothing shops
and restaurants. And while Holly might be better known for its old-timey
feel and celebrations like the annual Dickens Festival in Battle Alley,
efforts by the Downtown Development Authority to transform its streets
into a 21st century attraction are paying off. Much of this new momentum can be credited to the recent completion of an $800,000 streetscape spruce-up to help revitalize the downtown district, evidenced by the city's new street signs, streetlamps and brick pavers.
"We're perfectly positioned between US-23 and I-75. We've got a knock-out Main Street, yet it's a great place to grow a business," adds Hope Ponsart, Director of Holly's DDA.
She says Holly's recent growth could be an indication that Michigan's unemployment woes have a silver lining: limited jobs and plentiful layoffs may have created a new generation of entrepreneurs eager to strike out on their own. "People are willing to take a risk, and Holly's a good place to do that," Ponsart says.
John LaCroix moved his retail operation to 110 S. Saginaw in Holly from his previous space at the Great Lakes Crossing Outlet Mall.
"We chose Holly because ... I saw the potential in a town that looks like it needed some reviving. I saw other owners that were moving at the same time, such as BlackThorn Pub across the street, Capital Music and the new owners at Bittersweet," he says. "There was a lot of stuff that was coming new, and I could see that, so it looked like a good place to put some roots down."
Now, over 30 Michigan artists take center stage at his collective, the Great Lakes Artisan Village, creating the atmosphere and energy of a constantly-evolving art fair within its walls. "I started the company called Great Lakes Art Group about two years ago," he says, which is the parent company of the Great Lakes Artisan Village. "The Village started because friends of mine were all doing art shows, and there's no real guarantee in art shows." Inclement weather or busy weekends can often leave an artist stranded, having paid weekend tent fees without any guarantee of being able to sell their wares. "The difference is, here, these artists are on display all month long, for less than a booth fee for one weekend. They can be here all month, every month, fully advertised, fully exposed, seven days a week, you name it."
One big attraction? Housing the Holly Candle Shoppe, which brings visitors from all over the region to purchase their 100% soy, hand-poured creations. Customers can also pick up local eats and homemade goodies from 30 different Michigan food vendors. On April 9, WJR will journey out to the Great Lakes Artisan Village to kick-off their new series, Great Places of the Great Lakes. Station host John McCullough will host a live broadcast, focusing on Great Lakes Artisan Village and Holly's historic downtown. Find them on
Facebook, explore their selection of Mitten State artists
online, or ring them at (248) 660-9078.
Over at the Bittersweet Cafe, new owners John and Dee Van Boemel are clearly embracing their move to 112 S. Saginaw St. -- just check out their sandwich list. The Rose Manor Reuben, Depot Turkey and Dickens Italian Sausage are just a few offerings meant to create a sense of place in downtown Holly. "Our food is fresh, healthy and filling," says Dee Van Boemel, "with kids' menu and seasonal courtyard dining available." Call (248) 328-0800 or visit
thebittersweetcafe.com for more details.
And at the BlackThorn Pub, located at 105 S. Saginaw St., a peek at the menu reveals a push to offer Holly residents and visitors a more cosmopolitan experience in a small-town setting. With a beer list that features 20 drafts on tap and over 60 microbrews from around the world, BlackThorn combines the best aspects of a neighborhood tavern with gastropub influences, including a menu featuring actual family recipes from owners Rory Kelly and Ben Leahy. Call (248) 369-8714 or check them out on
Facebook.
Capital Music, the final addition to Saginaw Street, is more than just a music shop. They offer guitars and other instruments on consignment, and they'll repair a broken string or out-of-tune instrument. Capital offers lessons on the guitar, fiddle, mandolin, piano and drums. For the serious musician with their sights set on an album release, Capital even has a small recording booth for demo recordings. And the space was built with a stage for acoustic sessions and live shows -- Michigan Country Music Hall of Famer Gene Kelly will appear April 30th at 7 p.m. Expect to see student talent shows, featured bands, theatre groups, singer/songwriters and poetry slams on Saginaw St. this spring. For more information, call (248) 245-5167, "friend" Capital Music on
Facebook, or head to their website,
capitalmusic.biz.
LeCroix says Holly has the potential to become a major statewide attraction. His word of advice to other potential entrepreneurs? Move quickly. "Holly's a great up-and-coming town," he says. "I will tell them if they start doing something now, they'll be on the cusp of it. If they wait six months, you won't be able to walk in this downtown area and find an empty space."
"There are actually a lot of new businesses that have relocated or just completely started up right here in Holly," Ponsart says. One other reason for the town's success? Its inclusion in Oakland County's
Main Street program. "Being a Main Street community has tremendous benefits. The resources there are incredible," she explains. "They have everything from funding to workshops for new businesses to tech visits to helping us design site plans ... Things like that are invaluable, if you're trying to start a new business."
"In the last eight months, we've had a lot of businesses come to Holly,"
Ponsart continues. "We have just had ribbon-cuttings for Happy's Pizza, the
Blackberry Bakery and a hydro grow-room. And that was just in the last
month," she says. Within the spring season, Holly will welcome a
Taco Bell, a feed store, and a radio-controlled hobby shop to town.
"Holly -- in about six months, you won't recognize the town. It will not be what it used to be," LeCroix adds. "It will actually look the way it's supposed to -- a historic village -- but it will be full of phenomenal retail places, restaurants, bars, that are just great places to come hang out in a small town."
Find out more about downtown Holly
here.
Ashley C. Woods is the editor of
Prosper. Contact her
here.
Photo 1: Downtown Holly today, courtesy of citybiz.com
Photo 2: John LeCroix and family celebrate the opening of Great Lakes Artisan Village. Courtesy of John LeCroix.
Photo 3: John and Dee Van Boemel, new owners of the Bittersweet Cafe, courtesy of Holly DDA.
Photo 4: Historic downtown Holly, courtesy of John LeCroix