Coldwater, Michigan - What's Changing

Project "K" and "Project H" - 2008

Project K

Here's some exciting news for downtown: According to the Downtown Development Authority, a new restaurant will be constructed in the old Kerr Hardware Building (which closed 10 years ago and currently hosts a mural). Construction will happen all summer, and the restaurant could open as early as September.
Update, July 2008: The Ann Arbor Business Review reports that the Willis Building Company of Saline has been awarded the contract for the renovation. Interestingly, this will include four connected buildings, so in the long term future we may see more than just a new restaurant. The contract award implies that the developer has successfuly completed the purchase of the downtown property, so we should see work beginning soon!
A reliable but anonymous local source claims that the Ann Arbor Business Review article is incorrect. I'm not sure what that means - that the company won't be Willis, that it won't be four buildings, or that the contract has not been signed. What is clear is that there is going to be a LOT of secrecy associated with this project, so rather than trust the rumors we're just going to have to observe what is going on from the outside in order to piece together the puzzle as it unfolds.

Project H

The other exciting Winter - Summer 2008 project is what is going on in front of Home Depot. First, there is the new "salmon colored strip mall". As of June 2008, there are now two tenants: Dollar Tree, which completed its move from another strip mall ahead of schedule early this year, and a Sprint cell phone retail shop. The other two suites are being finished now but it is unknown if they have been rented yet. Construction fence remains just to the west of the strip mall suggesting that another small business might be constructed there, either soon or in the distant future.
Just south of the strip mall, plans are underway for a new "drive thru restaurant" (approximately in the location shown in the map above). These plans have now been approved by the Coldwater Planning Commission [March 2008]. At both February and March meetings of the commission, the developer implied he had a tenant for the restaurant but declined to reveal its identity. There is again a lot of speculation about the new business; one possible candidate was thought to be Big Apple Bagel, which already operates in Coldwater and covets a drive-thru and was denied permission to add one at its current location - but it now seems that the property will host a much larger restaurant and that the drive-thru will be an added bonus for the tenant.
NEWS FLASH (June 2008): MyColdwater.com has just learned that the "drive thru restaurant" will be a Biggby coffee shop with drive-thru. (Biggby is a Michigan owned chain that used to be called Beaners.)
Update, July 2008: Building is continuing rapidly; the roof is now on (see blog for photo).

More News - Summer 2008

Hello...

The Daily Reporter and Yahoo Hot Jobs have recently run a classified ad for a management team for Papa Murphys Pizza in Coldwater. Coldwater does not (yet) have a Papa Murphys, so this could indicate that a new store is in the works. The ad implied it would be open in September.
On July 15th, a new Christian radio station started broadcasting from right here in Coldwater: WCWB - 90.1 FM. Not a whole lot is known about the new station, but here's what I've been able to find out: According to FCC records, the station has been planned since October 1999. The callsign was assigned about a year ago, and it has just started transmitting. The station is owned by Michiana Christian Broadcasters, Inc. Despite the name, the station appears to be a 0.25kW low strength station covering just the immediate Coldwater area (we might assume there are plans in the future for increasing the power or adding translator stations for nearby towns). The transmitter is located near the airport and is being maintained by Munn-Reese. The station is broadcasting programming from the BBN Christian radio network.

Moved...

The Branch ISD Early Education office that was next to Save-a-Lot has moved (as of June 30th) to 200 Bishop Ave.
SM Assessing, having moved out of their 13 S. Monroe office to make way for the new El-A Taquila restaurant (of which work has still not yet been started despite the work permit), has found a new home at 20 W. Chicago (next to Shemel's).

Goodbye...

A frequent MyColdwater.com visitor has reported that Fashion Bug will be closing sometime in August. She said that according to the manager, the Michigan market is not doing well. Discounts of 20-30% are being offered now with more expected as the store gets closer to closing.
It is with great sadness that I must report that Pet Supplies "Plus" will be closing its store soon. This is also a big surprise as the pet supply store chain as a whole is doing well (and adding new stores), and also because there is no other pet supply store in Coldwater. The store is not restocking shelves, and items are currently at least 20% off. I've been asking around to see what our options are for pet supplies once this store closes. First, some of the more common items are available at the "big box" stores like Wal-Mart and Meijer. Second, Family Farm & Home has some pet supplies. Third, some vets and groomers may sell supplies of some of the less common items like Science Diet. A final option is to visit Pet Supplies "Plus" in Angola, where the remainder of the Coldwater store's inventory will be moved to once the doors close.
The Victorian Mansion Inn (restaurant and bed & breakfast) has closed again. The phone has been disconnected and there is a "for sale" sign out front.
NOT CLOSED YET: The owner of Ken Day Motor Sales has a "for sale" sign on his property as he is looking to sell his business, but in the meantime he is still OPEN for business.

Other Changes...

The Coldwater Free Methodist Church just opened a new 19,000 square foot expansion to their facility which they are calling the Family Center.
It is now late in the summer and there has been almost no work whatsoever on the major redevelopment at the Dunham's property (which I had called "Project L"), despite all the approvals from the city (including a special use permit). Since it is so late in the construction season to be starting such as major project, I can only assume that the plans have been cancelled. Perhaps it is due to economic conditions. For example, almost every major strip mall in Coldwater has vacancies right now. Also, part of the plans included a new drive-thru coffee shop, but a competing coffee shop is already being built by Home Depot (see "Project H" near the top of this document). UPDATE: MyColdwater.com has learned that the brand new Starbucks coffee shop in nearby Angola, Indiana, is scheduled to be closed. It is possible that Starbucks planned to expand to Coldwater, too, at the Dunham's property, but had to cancel due to corporate downsizing.
Some of the parking lot concrete at the vacant old gas station property at 399 Marshall St. has been replaced. Why this was done is a total mystery because, as far as we know, the property is not up for sale, nor is there any indication that a new gas station or other store will be opened there. Further it probably would be unwise to fix the concrete speculatively to make the property more attractive for sale since the overall real estate market is slow right now. According to public records, the property is owned by Bitler Investment Venture V. LLC et al. (though the taxes are paid by the Speedway gas company).
Another surprise parking lot repaving is at the Big Tomato submarine sandwich shop which is out of business. A search of public records indicated that the owner of the property owns a few other properties around town, so one could assume that the Big Tomato rented the property and that the property owner is trying to make the property look more attractive to prospective tenants.

News - Spring 2008

Hello...

Sirens Bar & Grill (formerly The Firehouse Restaurant and Saloon) has now re-opened. The owners have painted some interesting murals on the front and back of the building to stimulate interest.
Workers proudly erected a sign for Stoagie's Family Room Cafe on April 8th. They did not know when the new restaurant will open, but it looks like it will be very soon. It is located on the other side of Jefferson Street from the Citgo gas station.
The new Great Lakes Health & Fitness Center (next to Great Lakes Chiropractic) has now opened.
The new Cartridges Unlimited store next to Radio Shack is now open. Cartridges Unlimited is a national commercial printer cartridges recycler that is now expanding into retail, and the Coldwater store is one of its first four retail stores (the others being in Indiana and North Carolina).
A new computer sales and service center called The Sales Tag is opening soon on Division Street in the former Amerifirst location. The small office will be a local retail extension of a locally owned, substantial online business. A new sign has just been put up but as of May 1st the office is not yet officially opened.
A second tenant is now in the new "salmon colored strip mall" (the first was Dollar Tree). It is a Sprint cell phone retail shop.
In Dollar Tree's old store by the freeway, Mattress Land has opened.
The plans to open a new "McClougan's Pub" in the old Creative Kitchens location on Chicago Street have probably been scrapped. Several months have gone by since the plans were first reported, and there is still a "for lease" sign in the window.
On the other hand, a surprise new restaurant may be in the works at 13 S. Monroe in the former SM Assessing office next to Sirens. The window shows a permit (issued May 8) to convert the property to a new El-A Taquila restaurant.
Meanwhile, the nearby mystery bakery in the old Just Bead It location is now revealed as Melanie's and will be a cake shop. Their new business card says "custom designed cakes and delicious baked treats for all occasions." In the window, sample wedding cakes are attracting attention.
In the northern part of the city, braving the recent construction on Marshall Rd. which is disrupting traffic, Adventure Travel has announced its grand opening. The new store is located near Family Dollar.
On the other side of the parking lot, a new J & M Tattoo shop has opened in the old Cornwell Computer location. (Note: The backlit sign has not yet been changed.)
The owner of the buildings hosting Dunham's, Cottage Inn Pizza, Rent-a-Center, Advance Employment, and the former Blockbuster / Halloween USA revealed some redevelopment plans at a February Coldwater Planning Commission meeting: The Dunham's building will be expanded west and south, resulting in a new L-shaped strip mall. The existing Cottage Inn Pizza, Rent-a-Center, and Advance Employment tenants will relocate there, then the old building housing those tenants will be razed. Finally, a new drive-thru coffee shop will be constructed on the old Hot 'n Now location. With the old Rent-a-Center building gone, there will still be room for a shortcut to the Comfort Inn (as well as a path to Benedict's Steakhouse). The plans were approved but no work as been started as of yet.

Goodbye...

The Big Tomato submarine sandwhich shop has suddenly closed without warning. Despite being locally owned, in a historical building, and having fresh ingredients, it apparently could not compete with the three Subway sandwhich shops in town. A sign on the window thanks local residents for their business and support.

Other Changes...

Capital Transmission is now known as Capital Auto.
Taco Bell is currently undergoing an interior remodel, and only the drive thru is open.
VIP Auto and also the Lamplighter Lounge are both apparently undergoing major building expansions.
Willowbrook Plaza and the hillside plaza extension are finally getting the much-needed pavement repairs (see blog for pictures). All businesses are remaining open during the project, even though you may have to park farther away than usual.

News - Winter 2008

Hello...

The new Hampton Inn is finally open - and a week or two ahead of schedule of the predicted March 15th opening date.
The G.W. Allen coffee shop that closed last fall was sold and has just re-opened [Mid-February] as "The Big Eaze" featuring deli sandwiches, hot dogs, wraps, salads, ice cream, and coffee.
The Firehouse Restaurant and Saloon is apparently being renamed "Sirens Bar & Grill", and will re-open soon.
Next door, some sort of new bakery is opening in the old Just Bead It location, as advertised on the store window, but no name is yet given for the new business.
The Bible Study Resource Center has opened downtown, a new nonprofit organization "dedicated to serving Coldwater and the surrounding area by providing materials to facilitate deep and personal study of the Word of God." It is located in the formerly vacant storefront next to Shemel's.
According to the Coldwater DDA, the old Creative Kitchens location on Chicago Street will be renovated, and a new "McClougan's Pub" will open there sometime later this spring.
According to the Cartridges Unlimited website, a new retail store will be opening in Coldwater. As of late February, there is a banner in front of the Radio Shack strip mall advertising the store, but no apparent activity in either of the two empty stores.

Moved...

With student enrollment steadily increasing, Baker College has now moved to a newly renovated portion of the old Kmart building. The new facility will accommodate up to 120 students.

Goodbye...

Max $10 Family Fashions is going out of business and is currently [Feb. 2008] having a liquidation sale.

Other Changes...

The newly reopened Victorian Mansion Inn now has its restaurant open for business.
As of March 1st, Lentz USA Service Center is now U.S. 12 Auto Repair. No longer part of the Lentz chain, it is now locally owned and is offering general auto repairs.
Ed-de's restaurant is now known as Jeannie's Diner.
Extermital Termite & Pest Control is now known as Evergreen Pest Control.
Lockwood Community Church's new sanctuary, which will give it more space for its growing attendance, is finally scheduled to open on March 9th, assuming all occupancy permits are approved.

Fall 2007

Hello...

The exterior of the new hotel on Willowbrook Rd. is almost complete, as of November. According to the city engineering department, it will be a Hampton Inn.
The new strip mall in front of Home Depot has just been painted an interesting salmon color and is near ready for new businesses to move in. MyColdwater.com has just learned (12/13/07) that one of the new tenants will be Dollar Tree, which is looking to move there to expand its floor space.
Sears has just opened [December] a dealer store in Coldwater, at the previous Rent-a-Center location. Appliances, electronics, tools, and more will be available. MyColdwater.com has posted the new store's information and phone number even before Sears.Com!
Over two years in the making, Stoagie's Family Room Cafe is still set to open in 2008. The parking lot is finished, and new tables can be seen inside. It will be located on the other side of Jefferson Street from the Citgo gas station.
Tailgaitor's Sports Bar & Grill is also set to open in 2008 downtown in the old location of Neptune's Cavern.
The Victorian Mansion Inn, a wonderful historic building on Division Street, has just re-opened [late November].
The Firehouse Restaurant and Saloon, which had closed, is currently under renovation and is set to re-open as a restaurant at some point in the future.

Moved...

World Harvest Worship Center has moved its services to the Dearth Center. A new Great Lakes Health & Fitness Center is now in the works at the old location.
Century 21 - Drews Realty has just moved [early December] to the prime downtown former location of Chicago Title which recently closed (see "Goodbye" section). Century 21's old location will become the home of a new full service branch of Monarch Community Bank in early 2008.

Goodbye...

The awesome coffee shop G.W. Allen has sadly closed.
The Just Bead It shop on Monroe Street also closed this fall, but its owners are taking the shop elsewhere in the state (full details were located on a sign on their door).
Also downtown, the Coldwater office of Chicago Title has closed due to the depressed housing market conditions, forcing customers to drive to their other regional office in Sturgis.
The Sauk Trail Custom Cycles shop and Coldwater Ink tatoo parlor mysteriously disappeared in mid November... not just closed shop, but the entire building is missing! Update [early December]: ReMax is offering the property for sale. NOTE: Coldwater Ink should not be confused with CW Ink Tattoos & Piercings, a separate business, which is still open.
And of course Halloween USA, the seasonal Halloween store, has come and gone, leaving the old Blockbuster building empty again.

Other Changes...

Wal-Mart is nearing the completion of a major interior remodeling.
A couple of downtown businesses (such as the one shown at left) have a whitewash primer on in preparation for a later repainting. The project is apparently taking a while.
Lockwood Community Church's new sanctuary, which will give it more space for its growing attendance, is almost complete, and the parking lot has just been paved [late November]. However, occupancy of the new space will not be allowed until January.