Downtown Bay City has added some new friends in 2013, as at least 10 new businesses opened their doors to do business downtown this year.
"The phones are ringing again," says Candace Bales, executive director of the
Downtown Management Board and Development Authority, referring to the renewed interest in opening businesses downtown in 2013. "I've been on the job 10 years and this is the best year we've had since my first year. It's exciting to see what's happening downtown."
Bales said she is happy with the current number of businesses that have been added in 2013, but says downtown may see more soon.
"There very well could be some more new businesses coming, but I can't talk about them just yet," she said. "Property owners have been talking with us and with prospective business owners, but there are no contracts signed yet so I can't discuss it yet. But, let's just say we're close to seeing more action downtown than we've already seen."
Here are nine businesses operating downtown today that you didn't see on Jan. 1, 2013: Survival Fitness, 512 Saginaw St.; Blue Skies Photography, 107 Fifth St., Izzie's on the Avenue, 805 Washington Ave.; Glass Act, 707 Washington Ave.; Hidden Treasures Gift Boutique, 107 Fifth St.; Kumon Math & Reading Center, 928 Washington Ave.; Dockside, 1019 N. Water St.; Jack's Bicycle Shop, 207 Third St.; and Rust Saw Smokehouse BBQ, 1205 Washington Ave.
A tenth business, PoHatter's at 1205 Washington Ave., opened this year "under the radar," says co-owner Levi Hatter. It is temporarily closed, but may reopen, according to Hatter.
"It is an extremely special time downtown," says Bales. "It feeds off itself. The more businesses that come downtown, the more reason there is to be downtown, and that brings interest, which in turn, leads to more businesses wanting to be here. That's exactly what is happening right now."
Bales' contention that people want to be downtown is backed up by the fact that two downtown condo developments, the Shearer Building and the Boathouse, are nearly full. Eleven of the 12 Shearer Building units are full, and 29 of the 31 Boathouse condos are occupied.
"People want to live here, people want to do business here," says Bales. "And it has that 'Everybody knows your name,' feel to it that you don't find everywhere."
The new business owners seem to agree with Bales. Suprita Sehanobish, owner and instructor at
Kumon Math & Reading Center, which had a soft opening May 2 and a grand opening July 25, says she has been helped greatly by her neighbors and the Chamber of Commerce.
"They help bring traffic by the center, they suggest ways to me to attract new students, everyone wants new businesses to succeed downtown," Sehanobish says. "They have treated me like a neighbor since the first day we opened."
Sehanobish says she enjoys doing business as a math and reading center in downtown Bay City because of the cultural aspects of the area. She says it is a natural locale to attract those interested in education.
"There is art, education, a music center, pottery, theater, all kinds of cultural activities," she says. "People who visit and participate in these kinds of things certainly are more likely to be interested in a program like Kumon than if we just opened up in a mall or somewhere like that.
"Downtown Bay City is a great place to do business, and we feel blessed to be here."
Sehanobish says the fact that she lives outside the immediate area does not make her feel like an outsider in downtown Bay City.
"I live in Sanford, but I feel at home when I come to work," she says. "I feel like I am part of a community, because, really, I am when I come downtown."
Sehanobish isn't the only new business owner who is happy with her 2013 move downtown. Tammy Fresorger, who co-owns
Rusty Saw Smokehouse BBQ with her husband, Steve, moved to her downtown location in January after doing business on the highway one mile north of Saginaw Valley. She couldn't be more pleased with the new atmosphere.
"Before, people would zip by us at 55 mph, and maybe not stop by for quite a while, just look at us," said Fresorger. "Now, we've got all kinds of foot traffic, downtown is a natural draw says people, there is always something going on and that's great for business. We did great business during River Roar, tall ships, the fireworks, you name it."
"We're a mom and pop barbeque that makes fresh food every day and we sold out of food last Friday and Saturday. That gives you an idea of how good business has been downtown."
Fresorger, like Sehanobish, says she has felt welcomed by her neighbors since moving downtown.
"Everyone wants new businesses to grow, it's not like it's a competitive thing," Fresorger says. "We all understand that the more the merrier. The busier it is downtown, the better it is for all of us."
If Fresorger is right, and busier is better, then 2013 has been a very good year so far for downtown Bay City. And if the plans for more new business on the way prove solid, then things could get better still.
Jeff Barr is a freelance writer who has lived in Michigan for 46 years. You can reach Jeff at barrj88@gmail.com