Over the last year, I've heard more rumors about a Jimmy John's coming to Coldwater than any other business. And, according to the Jimmy John's website, franchise opportunities are currently NOT available anywhere in lower Michigan. Nevertheless, an entrepreneur must have "sweet talked" corporate HQ, for a sign is now up - Jimmy John's is definitely coming, and it looks like they're already working on cleaning up the building for it. It will be located in the former Cole Story used car sales auxiliary building right next to the Coldwater Garden restaurant. By the way, on the other side of Coldwater Garden, a Culver's is still definitely planned, but, not surprisingly, the environmental clean-up has continually delayed the project... as of today they STILL haven't broken ground. But stay tuned!
Here's a photo of the strange makeshift ordering pad at McDonald's while they tear up and completely re-do the drive-thru. Click here to view more pictures of the construction project (including facade work). 
Coldwater is busy this spring with lots of construction projects (J.T.'s Bar & Grill, the Houghton Center, Mastronardi, etc.). An exciting new one is at the Marshall St. Shell gas station where the entire parking lot has been dug up in order to install new storage tanks. Click here to see more photos. If you go to look, be sure to look across the street at the former Marco's Pizza and three adjacent buildings; Parrish Excavating of Quincy has it all fenced off for a big project (possibly to tear it all down??). (Note: The popular Allure Salon in the back is NOT part of the fenced-off area, thankfully.)
I would like to extend a special thank you to those businesses that joined MyColdwater.com in supporting Autism Awareness Month in April: Allure Salon, Chemical Bank, The Daily Reporter, and Taylor's Stationers. Thank you also to Kasey Myers-Zimmerman for the Autism fundraiser. For more info, be sure to visit http://autism.mycoldwater.com/Coldwater.html.
It was a somewhat surreal scene today in Coldwater with semi trucks jamming Marshall St. as far as the eye could see. According to the rumors on Facebook, there was a semi truck fire on I-69, requiring that the freeway be closed for much of the day. With Michigan Ave. also closed due to construction, southbound traffic had no choice but to detour downtown.