For Release on February 18, 2010
Contact: John Green, john@locusdevelopment.com
Locus Development announces development plans for the former Spectrum Health Childcare property in East Hills
Brewery Vivant, owned by former New Holland Brewing Company co-founder Jason Spaulding, has signed on as anchor tenant; plans to hire up to 50 people in first year for Belgian & French inspired brewery and 140-seat pub.
The $3-million LEED-certification candidate project is pending approvals, but developers are hopeful for late spring construction start and early fall grand opening.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Locus Development announced today its intentions to renovate the former Spectrum Health Childcare Center at 925 Cherry Street in the emerging East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Locus plans to convert the site into a mixed-use, LEED-certified development with a locally-owned brewery as the lead tenant.
Brewery Vivant, owned by Jason Spaulding, co-founder and former owner of New Holland Brewing Company, intends to open the Belgian- and French-inspired brewery & pub in early fall, pending approval of various development incentives Locus is pursuing.
Spaulding plans to hire 35 people to open the establishment and anticipates having as many as 50 employees within a year.
The one acre parcel located at 925 Cherry Street most recently served as a daycare center for employees of Spectrum Health, and includes three vacant buildings that line the Cherry Street & Lake Drive corridor. Construction of the nearly $3-million, 15,000 SF project could begin as soon as late spring. Brewery Vivant would fill approximately 9,200 SF of space in two of the renovated structures and would aim to open by early fall.
Locus is in discussions with other potential tenants, mainly in the retail sector, to occupy other sections of the multi-building development. Cornerstone Architects and Orion Construction are the lead design and build partners. M Retail is the commercial retail broker.
Locus also announced that future phases of the project could include constructing two new mixed-use buildings and renovating a former residential structure on the property. Local, state and federal authorities are reviewing the site and financial plans to determine the project’s eligibility for various development incentives.
“We’re excited for the chance to create a new destination in the East Hills neighborhood,” says Locus Development partner Andy Winkel. “We feel the proposed concept demonstrates a responsible approach to building upon the existing fabric of the neighborhood,” he adds.
“The area has such a great vibe with forward-thinking businesses like Marie Catrib’s, Green Well, Corez, and Gaia. I cannot imagine a better place to locate the brewery” says Spaulding. “I look forward to adding another layer of depth to an already outstanding neighborhood business district.”
Brewery Vivant combines Spaulding’s passion for great beer and food, environmental sustainability and a community focus. He intends to source ingredients from local farmers for
both the beer and the food served at the pub.
Spaulding chose the name for the brewery after a trip to the French speaking part of southern Belgium. “Vivant” is used there as a term that loosely translates to “living the good life” and is often associated with eating and drinking well.
Brewery Vivant will brew and package Belgian- and French-inspired beer within one of the site’s newly renovated buildings and serve its beer in a 140-seat pub and outdoor seating area adjacent to the production area. Spaulding also intends to sell his beer through in-state and out-of-state beer distributors. The latest progress on the brewery & pub can be followed on Twitter at “breweryvivant” or on Facebook under “Brewery Vivant”.
Site plans and renderings, along with other marketing materials, will be made available after all necessary approvals are granted to the project.
“We are eager to get started,” Winkel notes, “but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, so we’re taking an appropriate pace with this project.”
About Locus Development
www.locusdevelopment.com
In a short time Locus Development has made a name for itself as a developer of unique urban developments that inspire downtowns. Other projects include Thirty-Eight, the $26 million liner building project located at 38 Commerce Ave, Hopson Flats and Founders Brewing, among others. Green, former owner of Elevation Group, and Winkel, former president of Kelwin Properties, established Locus Development in April of 2008 after working together on three very successful downtown renewal projects. The company is committed to building better, smarter places to live, work, and play in the city’s urban core. The company’s tagline “Life, People, Places” emphasizes the firm’s belief that the three components must work in harmony to create a truly great environment.
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