Signature Associates

Posted By: mlive on May 25, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. A rapidly growing cleaning equipment company is doubling its size in Muskegon with a $2.6 million addition. Pacific Floorcare is constructing a 36,000-square-foot manufacturing facility addition onto its existing building that is of equal size, according to company President Bill […]

Posted By: mlive on May 20, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. A Grand Rapids-based tech firm, whose online app is designed to help stockholders claim company gifts and perks, has received a $510,000 state grant if it creates up to 73 jobs over the next three years.  TiiCKER, which has offices […]

Posted By: mlive on April 24, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. The 28th Street corridor in Wyoming was once a hub of entertainment and shopping in the greater Grand Rapids area. With West Michigan’s first multiplex cinema and first shopping mall, it was the place for family and friends to gather […]

Posted By: mlive on April 11, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. Several dilapidated, largely vacant warehouses along the 600 block of Godfrey Avenue SW would be transformed into a 475-unit housing development with office, retail and event space, and a food hall under a proposal from three metro Detroit developers. The […]

Posted By: mlive on April 5, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. The area near Celebration Cinema North is full of construction equipment and fences for multiple large projects. A hotel, Starbucks and other developments are in the works there. Construction hasn’t yet begun on a new 250-unit apartment building planned near Celebration Cinema […]

Posted By: WGRD 97.9 on February 24, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   UPDATE 2/24/2023: A new dining concept is coming to Grand Rapids. The first ever permanent food truck court is slated to open on the city’s West Side. The City Planning Commission officially approved the plan for the Back […]

Posted By: The Lakeshore West Michigan on February 12, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. Ottawa County’s largest employer is expanding into Kent County. Gentex Corporation has announced plans for a new satellite production facility that will bring 50 new jobs to the Madison Square neighborhood of Grand Rapids. By broadening its […]

Posted By: The Detroit News on January 24, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. LG Energy Solution is getting an extension on formally entering into an agreement with Michigan’s quasi-governmental economic engine to quintuple the size of its Holland electric-vehicle battery plant just days after it first was reported that the company […]

Posted By: mlive on January 18, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. A stretch of Wealthy Street SE between Lafayette and Prospect avenues would be transformed with 18 townhomes, two renovated single-family homes, and commercial space under a proposed development plan. The plan, being pitched by Grand Rapids-based Indigo Design + Development, […]

Posted By: DBUSINESS on January 9, 2023.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. Meijer, the Grand Rapids-based retailer that operates one of the largest fleets in Michigan with 250 semitrucks, has deployed two of the first all-electric semitrucks outside of California. The retailer also is the first nationwide to track the performance of […]

Posted By: MiBiz on December 9, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   The group behind the revival of high-performance brand Buell Motorcycle Co. continues to build out its team, add sales infrastructure and invest in new product engineering and development in West Michigan. CEO Bill Melvin, who led an effort to secure […]

Posted By: MiBiz on December 6, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   Grand Rapids city commissioners have approved tax incentives for four mixed-use projects that would add 200 housing units across the city. The approvals include 15-year Neighborhood Enterprise Zone tax exemptions for the Lofts on Grove multi-family project in the […]

Posted By: MiBiz on November 7, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   Key metrics in a monthly report on West Michigan’s industrial economy trended downward last month into negative territory, reflecting a slowing economy. Indexes for new orders, purchases and employment each fell into negative territory for October, according to results […]

Posted By: MiBiz on November 7, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   A group of Michigan and Chicago-based entrepreneurs are developing a one-stop cannabis destination in Muskegon that would include a growing and processing facility, dispensary, consumption lounge, outdoor venue, restaurant and bar. The $10 million Fields Cannary project would be […]

Posted By: mlive on November 7, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   The pet treat division of Maryland-based Perdue Farms plans to open a production facility in Oceana County and begin operations there in October 2023. The family-owned food and agriculture company purchased a building at 168 Lincoln St. in Shelby […]

Posted By: MiBiz on November 10, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has signed a seven-year lease renewal for its downtown Grand Rapids headquarters, providing a sign of confidence amid widespread uncertainty in downtown commercial office space. Blue Cross Blue Shield, which leases the building from Rockford […]

Posted By: MiBiz on October 20, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   The Walker Planning Commission has approved plans for a 132,680-square-foot distribution center north of I-96 that’s part of a larger 76-acre site being repurposed for industrial uses. Traverse City-area developer Mike Kolarevic, of ECEK GRR3.0 LLC, is leading plans […]

Posted By: MiBiz on October 18, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   Three economic development organizations serving a 13-county region in West Michigan have narrowed nearly 150 properties down to 10 sites that would be suitable for potentially large industrial or advanced manufacturing projects. The roughly eight-month effort comes as state […]

Posted By: mlive on October 10, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   A Chicago-based developer plans a 10-story building along Division Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids that would include more than 400 apartment units, retail and restaurant space. Jon Morgan, co-founder and principal of Chicago-based Interra Realty, is the developer for the […]

Posted By: MiBiz on October 4, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   Lansing-based construction management firm Clark Construction Co. will expand its West Michigan presence with a new office at the McKay Tower in downtown Grand Rapids. Company officials said in an announcement today that the firm’s growing list of large-scale West Michigan […]

Posted By: MiBiz on September 20, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   An Italian manufacturer of luxury RV and boat fixtures plans to open its North American headquarters in Cascade Township with a $7.3 million investment that could create 130 jobs. State and local economic development officials today announced Tecnoform USA’s plan […]

Posted By: Grand Rapids Business Journal (As seen on WZZM TV 13) on August 19, 2022.   For more information, please click here to read the source article.   Despite continued uncertainty in a turbulent market, the state of commercial real estate in West Michigan still shows some flexibility. “While there are definitely things going on that are […]

Posted By: MiBiz on August 28, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   Retail corridors on Grand Rapids’ east side are in flux as new businesses move in and longtime staples relocate or shut down. The corridors in East Hills and Eastown embody West Michigan’s hot commercial real estate and retail market, […]

Posted By: Grand Rapids Business Journal on August 12, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   A local shopping center was sold to an unnamed buyer for $63.5 million. A fund managed by New York-based DRA Advisors, in partnership with Illinois-based real estate agency Pine Tree, acquired the Shops at CenterPoint, a […]

Posted By: Grand Rapids Business Jounral on July 20, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. Signature Associates’ Joe Rizqallah is proud to have been a part of this deal.   A dog day care, overnight boarding and grooming facility recently reopened after relocating to a new space. Good Dog GR this week announced the […]

Posted By: Grand Rapids Business Journal on July 21, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article.   A new series of reports showed commercial real estate in West Michigan appears healthy despite recent challenges. Colliers West Michigan on Tuesday, July 19, released its newest market trend reports on the industrial, retail and office […]

Posted By: mlive on July 11, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. Signature Associates’ Joe Rizqallah is proud to have been a part of this deal.   A Whole Foods Market at the Radcliff Plaza shopping center in Kentwood near Woodland Mall is opening Aug. 17, according to a sign hanging outside […]

Posted By: Grand Rapids Business Journal on June 24, 2022.  For more information, please click here to read the source article. Signature Associates’ Chip Hurley is proud to have been a part of this deal.   A digital consulting firm will relocate its West Michigan headquarters.  Holland-based Twisthink on Thursday, June 23, disclosed plans to move into the Doug Meijer […]

Perrigo, the private label over-the-counter pharmaceutical company, has always had a presence in West Michigan. It was founded in Allegan and has operations in Holland. But the opening of the company’s new North American headquarters in the Grand Rapids Innovation Park adds another key piece to the city’s burgeoning health sciences sector. Perrigo is opening […]

Pinnacle Construction Group Inc. plans to renovate historic buildings next to its Grand Rapids headquarters along the Grand River to create a 12-unit affordable apartment building with office space. The approximately $13 million project at 974 Front Ave. NW on the west side of the Grand River would be LEED-certified with apartment units that achieve 60 […]

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN—May 25, 2022— Signature Associates has negotiated the lease of 1,256 square feet of retail space located at 900 Michigan Street NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan to Method Salon, LLC. Joe Rizqallah of Signature Associates represented the landlord, 900 Michigan NE, LLC. The tenant has been in business for 3 years and decided to […]

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN—May 25, 2022— Signature Associates has negotiated the sale of an 8,040 square foot retail building located at 69 28th Street SW, Wyoming, Michigan. Joe Rizqallah of Signature Associates represented the purchaser, Latyn Rhythm Entertainment. Latyn Rhythm Entertainment has been our client for almost 10 years. They have multiple businesses, and this will […]

Home to an arena, convention center and several smaller concert venues, Grand Rapids has no shortage of entertainment options, but city leaders say a proposal for a $116 million outdoor amphitheater that would sit on the banks of the Grand River on prime downtown real estate is expected to spur $474 million in economic impact […]

JLL released its 2022 first-quarter West Michigan industrial and office reports, and the differences are striking. The industrial report revealed that 921,392 square feet of industrial space in West Michigan was absorbed, decreasing the vacancy rate in the region to 3.2%. The average asking rent price increased to $4.06 per square-foot, up 1.8% from the […]

Commercial real estate experts have struggled to predict the future of the office market since the COVID-19 pandemic started, though they expect demand for high-quality office spaces to remain strong.  Office vacancy rates in downtown Grand Rapids hovered around 11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to market reports from JLL Inc. and Colliers International’s West […]

Franklin Partners LLC purchased the sprawling former General Motors stamping plant in Wyoming known as Site 36 late last month for $5.25 million and plans a new industrial development on the property for multiple manufacturers. Grand Rapids- and Oak Brook, Ill.-based Franklin Partners, doing business as Franklin Site 36 LLC, bought the 74-acre site from the city […]

Half-built hotels that have sat vacant for 3 ½ years will be turned into apartments following approval of the plans by Fruitport Township. A no-compete clause halted construction of the two buildings on East Sternberg Road near the Lakes Mall in Muskegon County. They remained vacant until the township enacted a blight ordinance about a […]

A group of partners has begun construction on a pair of venues called Motu Lakeshore Wine Bar and Prohibition Muskegon. Jonathan Jelks and his father, Randal Jelks; Jamiel Robinson; recording artist Willie “Willie the Kid” Jackson; and Alvin Hills IV announced Monday, Feb. 21, construction officially kicked off on Motu Lakeshore Wine Bar and Prohibition Muskegon Bar […]

A West Michigan economic development agency created a new division focused on placemaking and tapped an existing executive to run it. Grand Rapids-based The Right Place said Wednesday, Feb. 23, it established a community development division that will be led by Tim Mroz, senior vice president of community development, a member of the organization’s leadership […]

A privately held real estate company in Georgia recently purchased Felch Street Shopping Center in Holland Charter Township for $21 million. The 166,100-square-foot shopping center is fully leased to national and regional retailers including Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Jonathan Stevens Mattress, Party City, PetSmart, Shoe Carnival, T.J.Maxx and Ulta Beauty. […]

MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN—February 23, 2022— Signature Associates has negotiated the sale of a 24,000 square foot industrial building located at 2176 E. Laketon Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan to Robyn’s Nest Management, LLC. Jamie Hughes of Signature Associates represented the seller, Gross Development, LLC. *** About Signature Associates Signature Associates, with offices in Southfield, Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, […]

Construction Simplified plans to move and expand its offices in Grand Rapids in preparation of eventually growing its presence across the country. The construction firm is currently located at 895 W. Fulton St. on the city’s west side. It has a development agreement with John McLeod, co-founder and head of new markets for Cloud Cannabis Co., to […]

A hotel, restaurants and apartment buildings along the waterfront, a cruise ship dock and more are part of a proposed plan to redevelop the Lake Macatawa shoreline near downtown Holland. The proposed plan calls for a mixed-use redevelopment along Lake Macatawa off of W 8th Street and Washington Boulevard that would include a 50-room hotel, […]

A new $3.5 million construction trade school recently opened in Grand Rapids. The West Michigan Construction Institute (WMCI), at 801 Century Ave. SW in Grand Rapids, opened its doors to high school students earlier this month. The 14,000-square-foot building includes seven classrooms, three construction labs and office space. The Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan […]

Consumers Credit Union is kicking off construction on a new office and retail space in Kalamazoo’s Oakwood neighborhood. Construction will begin within the next month at the corner of Parkview Avenue and Oakland Drive on a new location featuring two buildings: a 7,355-square-foot retail building, which will be available for lease, and a two-story, 4,391-square-foot […]

The construction industry experienced widespread pauses on projects in 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the backlog made for a packed year in 2021, which features a range of ongoing projects including housing developments and reuses of former industrial buildings. Talent shortages, high construction costs and long lead times for materials have […]

The restaurants, bars and entertainment venues inside The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids will close, while GLC Live at 20 Monroe will remain as a venue ahead of the two buildings’ pending sales, property owner Gilmore Collection announced today. Gilmore Collection officials say the buyers of the two properties remain private, and future plans for The B.O.B. are not yet publicly […]

An aluminum extrusion product manufacturer is investing $30.4 million to expand in Belding in a move expected to add 38 jobs. Extruded Aluminum Corporation (EAC) will be expanding at its current location at 7200 Industrial Drive in Belding, said The Right Place, in collaboration with the Ionia County Economic Alliance (ICEA) and the Michigan Economic […]

City officials have taken another step toward approving $22 million in brownfield incentives for Spectrum Health’s Center for Transformation and Innovation campus. The City Commission’s Community Development Committee recommended setting a public hearing for the $100 million project on Dec. 7 before the full commission. The committee resolution is expected to be approved by the full commission […]

Fifth Third Bank is looking to sell its historic branch building in downtown Holland. The iconic three-story, 25,000-square foot building at 36 E. 8th St. was constructed in 1928 and has a sale price of more than $4.5 million, according to the listing by NorthStar Commercial LLC. The listing includes two additional parcels behind the historic structure […]

The side wall of the Witmark building came crashing down Thursday as workers began demolishing the blighted building that has sat vacant for about 20 years. Local residents commonly refer to the 45,000-square-foot, boarded up building at 4189 Jupiter Ave. NE as an eyesore. Citing safety concerns, Plainfield Township issued an order to property owner Regency […]

L3Harris Technologies Inc., a global tech company that supplies the defense industry, has announced a nearly $2.6 million expansion in the Grand Rapids area. The Melbourne, Fla.-based L3Harris — which specializes in technology that ranges from missile warning and defense systems to electronic warfare and autonomous systems — announced today that it is investing $2.58 […]

State officials have approved a loan and brownfield incentives for a $13.2 million, five-story mixed-use development planned at a former industrial site north of downtown Kalamazoo. The project development team of 619 LLC was formed by Jeff Nicholson, Craig Bush and David Michal Scott to construct a five-story structure on 1.4 acres at 619 Porter St. Nicholson […]

Low industrial real estate vacancy rates and ongoing construction backlogs are pushing industrial projects to more rural and outlying areas. In the Grand Rapids area, an increasing number of industrial sites that have sat dormant for years in outlying parts of Walker and Hudsonville are now being bought or developed, said Stu Kingma, associate broker […]

The retail sector of West Michigan’s commercial real estate market is seeing heavy activity despite many business owners struggling to stay fully staffed. Local real estate brokers attribute the high level of activity partly to pent-up demand from consumers and deals being put on hold in 2020 because of the pandemic, as well as the […]

Education-focused furniture manufacturer MiEN Co. plans to consolidate its Walker-based operations into a new headquarters at the former Baker Furniture property along the Grand River in Grand Rapids. The parcel at 1661 Monroe Ave. NW was purchased on Aug. 16 for $6.3 million by Remco Realty LLC, which is registered to MiEN Co. President and CEO Remco Bergsma, […]

The former MLive Media Group and Grand Rapids Press printing facility in Walker that once printed 375,000 newspapers a week has been sold to a Pontiac-based industrial contracting company for $9.75 million. The nearly 236,000-square-foot facility at 3100 Walker Ridge Drive will serve as Lee Contracting Inc.’s first location outside of Pontiac. Company Founder Edward Lee worked to […]

A historic bank building in downtown Muskegon will be redeveloped into a mixed-use space after being vacant for four years.  Core Development Group plans to repurpose the six-story tower at 221 W. Webster Ave. into offices, commercial space and apartments. “It’s preserving an old building. If it sat here forever, who knows what it would […]

Two West Michigan companies, Gen3 Defense & Aerospace and Blackmer, are expected to expand their operations in Grand Rapids, bringing 319 jobs and $15.5 million investment to the area. The expansions were announced Wednesday by The Right Place and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Gen3 Defense & Aerospace, an engineering company with a focus […]

Luxury condos, a marina, restaurant, event space and expanded public trails are part of a $250 million vision to transform 30 acres of Muskegon waterfront property. Developer Ryan Leestma and his wife, Emily Leestma, unveiled details of their plans for the Adelaide Point project on Wednesday alongside their development team, city officials and environmental advocates. […]

VisionQuest Companies plans to begin construction this month on a a $30 million headquarters near the corner of M-40 and Waverly Road. VisionQuest, which owns car wash companies and manufactures car wash equipment, says the new building is expected to be complete by fall 2022. It includes 75,000 square feet of office space and a […]

Planning officials in Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming hope a nearly completed study will help spur redevelopment along South Division Avenue after a highly touted bus rapid transit project failed to deliver on its economic development promises. Involving local residents and community leaders to share their vision for the future was a key aspect to […]

Mission Design & Automation is opening a new 50,000-square-foot facility next month and plans to add at least 109 high-tech jobs. The Holland-based custom industrial automation and robotics integrator Mission Design & Automation said last week that it is completing a new facility at 9696 Black River Court in Holland that will house office and manufacturing space […]

A global contract manufacturer of precision surgical and medical components and devices is investing $60 million through 2024 to build a new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Kentwood. Kentwood-based manufacturer Autocam Medical said Wednesday that it is investing $60 million through 2024 to expand its manufacturing footprint and capability in West Michigan with a new 100,000-square-foot […]

Grand Rapids’ newest social district soon will be coming to Fulton Street on the city’s West Side. The Grand Rapids City Commission on Tuesday approved the new West Fulton Social District on the 1100 block of W. Fulton Street between Marion and Garfield avenues NW. The district, expected to be operational in June, enables the sale […]

The city of Holland is seeking statements of qualifications from developers interested in redeveloping a 17-acre property owned by the Holland Board of Public Works located on the Lake Macatawa waterfront in downtown Holland and currently home to the decommissioned James De Young power plant. The site presents an opportunity to develop a large-scale, regional […]

A group of property owners in Hopkins Township are attempting to have approximately 500 acres of land along U.S. 131 annexed to the city of Wayland to allow development for a new West Michigan Commerce Center. Brian Silvernail, realtor associate at Show Grand Rapids Real Estate, said he is representing 13 property owners who signed […]

HOLLAND, MICHIGAN—May 7, 2021— Signature Associates has negotiated the sale of a 6,680 square foot carwash located at 386 Baypark Drive, Holland, Michigan to Koopman Real Estate. Tom Elhart of Signature Associates represented the seller, Winter Park, LLC. About Signature Associates Signature Associates, with offices in Southfield, Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Holland, Kalamazoo, Michigan […]

HOLLAND, MICHIGAN—May 5, 2021— Signature Associates has negotiated the sale of a 35,250 square foot industrial building located at 11431 Chicago Drive, Holland, Michigan to Zordon USA, Inc. Tom Elhart of Signature Associates represented the seller, UWI Properties. About Signature Associates Signature Associates, with offices in Southfield, Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Holland, Kalamazoo, Michigan […]

A Colorado company is expanding its facility in Zeeland to make room for an innovative approach to aerospace manufacturing. Fort Collins, Colorado-based Woodward Inc. is converting a previous warehouse space into an industrialized space that will be dedicated to additive manufacturing, according to the Lakeshore Advantage on Wednesday. The economic development agency helped Woodward secure an industrial […]

West Michigan’s industrial economy entered the second quarter trending along with the global and national economic recoveries from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four key activity indexes from economist Brian Long’s monthly survey of industrial purchasing managers in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas all improved from February to March, as did short- and […]

The West Michigan commercial real estate market has been relatively stagnant during the pandemic-induced shift to remote working, but advisers see some room for optimism ahead of a vaccine rollout and with several recent office deals.  “No matter what industry we’re talking about, I think the driving force is people’s attitude — which used to […]

A trio of West Michigan projects recently received community development funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The Michigan Strategic Fund of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) last week approved community revitalization projects in Grand Rapids, Middleville and Kalamazoo to “position the state for future prosperity,” the MEDC said. The MEDC said the projects […]

A new hotel under the REVERB by Hard Rock brand is planned for the former Gibson Mandolin-Guitar Manufacturing Co. building in Kalamazoo. PlazaCorp Realty Advisors, Inc. and Dora Hotel Co. are partnering to bring the new hotel to 225 Parsons St. in Kalamazoo, which currently houses Heritage Guitar Inc. The redevelopment of the 103-year-old, three-story structure and attached 167,000-square-foot industrial […]

The city of Holland received support from the state for a new five-story, mixed-use development project in its downtown. The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) on Tuesday approved support for a community revitalization project in Holland that it said will help create a vibrant place that attracts and keeps […]

Grand Action 2.0 revealed a conceptual plan for riverfront development along a currently underutilized stretch of Market Avenue south of Fulton Street. The business-based, private economic development nonprofit Grand Action 2.0 presented on Wednesday during the Economic Club of Grand Rapids program a conceptual plan that came out of a study commissioned by Grand Action […]

The Grand Rapids metropolitan area and West Michigan is estimated to return to pre-pandemic employment levels in 2022 or 2023, based on the latest research. The forecasts presented Tuesday morning, Feb. 23, to the Grand Rapids City Commission by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research also show lost employment in the Grand Rapids metro […]

A metal services company is investing over $2.4 million to expand its facility in Holland Charter Township. Harbor Steel & Supply Corporation, a metal services company with four West Michigan locations and operations in West Virginia and Kentucky, is investing $2,466,444 to expand its facility at 2385 112th Ave in Holland Charter Township, according to […]

Concepts for a $110 million residential and commercial development on Muskegon Lake have been approved by the Muskegon City Commission. Commissioners were told construction could begin this summer on the site, which may require environmental remediation as it is the former location of a sprawling Teledyne Continental Motors manufacturing complex. The plans for the long-vacant […]

West Michigan brokers and agents had to adjust to weather the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 across the industrial, office, retail and multifamily markets, according to real estate leaders who spoke at the virtual West Michigan Economic and Commercial Real Estate Forecast. “West Michigan made it through an extremely tough year in 2020, and I am […]

According to the third quarter market reports from NAI Wisinski West Michigan, the industrial sector is pushing through COVID-19 territory thanks to Michigan’s strong manufacturing backbone, but the region may have yet to see the long-term effects of the pandemic on other real estate sectors. It’s still too early to determine the damage COVID will […]

A ground breaking was recently held for the six-story mixed-use building, The Leonard, after construction was delayed earlier this year. The Leonard is being constructed at the corner of Western Avenue and Second Street. Construction on the 51,565-square-foot building initially was expected to begin in fall 2018, and was postponed once to May 2019 and again […]

A pair of industrial sites in West Michigan — including the future Kent County Department of Public Works sustainable business park — have been awarded a total of $150,000 in site readiness grants from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) said Wednesday that it issued $728,500 in site readiness grants […]

The Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority recently received Michigan Strategic Fund approval of a brownfield work plan that will include $228,939 in state tax capture reimbursement for the Leonard Development project. The Business Journal previously reported Leonard Development Partners LLC will construct a three-story, mixed-use building on the site where three vacant commercial properties were recently demolished. The […]

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The chain of HopCat restaurants has been sold to new owners some five months after the former owner, BarFly Ventures, filed for bankruptcy. Two investment firms — Congruent Investment Partners and Main Street Capital — teamed up to buy BarFly Ventures for $17.5 million. They created a new operating company, Project […]

Perrigo is investing $44.7 million to move its North American corporate headquarters to Medical Mile in downtown Grand Rapids in a move that will create 170 jobs. The Right Place, in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan State University, Rockford Construction and the city of Grand Rapids, on Tuesday announced the Dublin-based pharmaceutical […]

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes is set to break ground on a new $12.9 million Free Enterprise Center. The Junior Achievement Free Enterprise Center at 4090 Lake Drive SE, Grand Rapids, will serve as the regional staff headquarters. The 35,000-square-foot building also will house the three experiential labs for students across West Michigan: Fox […]

Gerber plans to spend up to $36 million to expand production of freeze-dried snacks at its Fremont plant, a move that’s expected to create 50 jobs over two years. The baby food manufacturer says it will add freeze dryers and other machinery used to make the freeze-dried snacks, known as melts, which Gerber says is […]

A toy and game distributor in the region added new space in Kentwood, hired two senior staff members and appointed a board member. Matt Stahlin, co-founder and president of Belding-based Flat River Group, told the Business Journal last week that his company opened a new, 160,000-square-foot distribution center at 3729 Patterson Ave. SE in Kentwood on […]

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN—September 2, 2020— Signature Associates has negotiated the lease of 1,500 square feet of retail space located at 5340 Plaza Avenue, Hudsonville, Michigan to Edward D. Jones & Co., LP.   Joe Rizqallah of Signature Associates represented the landlord, NAM Properties, LLC. Signature and NAM have worked together for over four years. We […]

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN—August 17, 2020— Signature Associates has negotiated the sale of a 13,812 square foot office building located at 501 Baldwin Street, Jenison, Michigan.   Joe Rizqallah of Signature Associates represented the seller, Huntington National Bank, and the purchaser, 501 Baldwin, LLC. The purchaser is currently working on multiple transactions with Signature Associates. He […]

A parenteral contract development and manufacturing organization for the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries completed its 20-month, $60 million expansion. Grand Rapids-based Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM) today hosted a private grand opening for its new 61,500-square-foot injectable fill-and-finish facility that is the fifth building in GRAM’s footprint and its third fill-and-finish facility. It is located at […]

Visitors to downtown will notice four new outdoor “social zones” that were installed in public spaces over the weekend to give restaurants and retailers more room to serve customers in the era of social distancing. Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and the city of Grand Rapids on Friday began installing the four contiguous social zones — […]

Grand Rapids-based tech company The KR Group opened a second location in Spring Lake. CEO Matt Keeler explained this move was something the company has been considering for a while. The KR Group has been operating in Grand Rapids for 10 years. As the company’s customer base grew to include more customers along the lakeshore, the need […]

Rockford Property Management assumed property management responsibilities at the historic McKay Tower in downtown Grand Rapids. “We couldn’t be more excited to add the iconic McKay Tower to our growing management portfolio alongside our Tribal partners Gun Lake Investments and Waséyabek Development Company,” said Monica Steimle-App, executive vice president of real estate development and property […]

The Portage City Council approved a $93 million budget during its Tuesday, May 26, meeting, but plans to reassess the budget quarterly as revenues change due to the coronavirus pandemic, the city manager said. Despite the economic impact of the pandemic, the city passed a balanced budget and retained a 24% reserve in its general […]

As states consider when and how to loosen stay-at-home restrictions, some West Michigan business owners look to summer tourism with careful optimism. Their hope followed a startling hit to the country’s tourism industry, which hemorrhaged as coronavirus disease 2019 infected more than a million people and killed tens of thousands of others. “In the short term, […]

Rating agencies S&P Global and Moody’s Investors Service once again affirmed long-term Triple-A credit ratings for Kent County. “This dual credit rating is a direct result of the solid fiscal policies we’ve maintained on behalf of the people of Kent County — even through this pandemic,” said Mandy Bolter, chair of the Kent County board […]

The COVID-19 pandemic upended an otherwise steady and busy quarter for commercial real estate in West Michigan, according to Colliers International West Michigan’s 2020 Q1 market reports. “Q1 began with a high level of activity across all sectors coming off a strong end to 2019; in fact, it was stronger than Q1 2019,” said Jon […]

Early projections are out about the impact of COVID-19 on the West Michigan economy, and they paint a sobering picture for the second quarter of 2020. James Chung — partner at StratoDem Analytics, a data science firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts that generates geographic market intelligence and forecasting in the U.S. — told the Business Journal […]

Three Rivers Industrial Development Authority reached a milestone last year, when an Indiana-based company bought more than 60 acres of property at Three Rivers Area Enterprise Park. TekModo’s purchase of more than 40 acres last year signaled TRIDA fulfilling its mission of selling all the property within the industrial park. The park, opened in the […]

A drug manufacturer with a major West Michigan presence is acquiring the oral care assets of a company that is in bankruptcy proceedings. Dublin, Ireland-based Perrigo — which has its North American headquarters in Allegan — said Monday that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the oral care assets of High Ridge Brands for $113 […]

With a $19 million convention center underway, several projects on the waterfront, a micro hotel and some mixed-use buildings, downtown Muskegon has become an epicenter of development activity along the lakeshore. “We are in a historic transformation,” said Dave Alexander, the business development manager for the city of Muskegon. While downtown Muskegon remains arguably the […]

Chip Hurley of Signature Associates was elected President of the Commercial Alliance of Realtors West Michigan® (CARWM) for the 2020 term. Chip has been a commercial broker for 24 years and has received both his CCIM and SIOR designations. He is also a member of the National & Michigan Association of Realtors.   As President […]

Grand Rapids was ranked third among large cities where manufacturing is “thriving,” according to a new study. AdvisorSmith, a financial services advisory startup based in New York, ranked Grand Rapids at No. 3 over other large cities such as Hartford, Connecticut; Greenville, South Carolina; Detroit; and San Francisco. According to the report, manufacturing output per […]

Peterson Farms Inc. in Shelby, Mich., north of Muskegon, has announced a $22 million expansion of its operations that will add 54 jobs. The project has the support of The Right Place Inc., the Oceana County Economic Alliance, the Michigan Economic Development Corp., Michigan Community Capital, and Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development. The […]

Coming off of a storm of activity in 2019, Woodland Mall announced its latest lineup of new and first-to-market retailers for 2020. Champs Sports, a major North American specialty sports retailer, will be the first of four stores to open at the mall, followed by Aéropostale, Sephora and White House Black Market. These new retailers […]

The state of Michigan is providing funding assistance for a new mixed-use development in downtown Muskegon. The Michigan Strategic Fund voted Tuesday to award Sweetwater Development Partners LLC financial assistance in the amount of $1.5 million through the Michigan Community Revitalization Program. The request supports an $8.9 million project that includes a six-story mixed-use building called […]

The various pockets of development in Allegan County make the area difficult to define in broad strokes.  To the west, there’s the Lake Michigan shoreline, dotted with high-end homes and the resort community of Saugatuck, as well as a corner of the city of Holland that includes the West Michigan Regional Airport. In the middle of […]

Contractors are capping off another busy year for developments across West Michigan. From the largest mixed-use project in downtown Grand Rapids history, to new modern buildings in historic areas, these are five notable projects from around the region on the radar for MiBiz this year. Here’s a closer look at them. 10 Ionia Architect: Yamasaki Associates Inc., Troy […]

A bank has unveiled its new regional corporate office and banking center inside a newly completed high-rise downtown. TCF Bank, a subsidiary of TCF Financial Corporation, which merged with Chemical Bank this summer, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 10 for its new regional corporate office and banking center in downtown Grand Rapids, at 150 Ottawa […]

Cascade Township officials are exploring the use of a vacant manufacturing headquarters as a potential site for a consolidated township office. The township board signed an agreement with an option to purchase the property at 5920 Tahoe Drive SE from Tahoe Associates LLC after the successful completion of a due-diligence period ending Dec. 12. If […]

An engineering firm from the state’s east side is setting up operations in West Michigan. Rochester Hills-based Spalding DeDecker opened an office in the Calder Plaza Building in downtown Grand Rapids, at 250 Monroe Ave. NW, according to the firm last month. It is the company’s first West Michigan location. With the addition of Grand Rapids […]

A 72,000-square-foot expansion at Gun Lake Casino will allow the operation to grow its gaming, restaurant and entertainment options. Preliminary site work for the $100 million project is currently underway. Gun Lake Casino expects construction to begin in the coming weeks, with an opening expected in summer of 2021. The expansion, which involves adding a new […]

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN—October 7, 2019— Signature Associates has negotiated the sale of Mitten Dogs located at 2625 Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan.   Jeff Chrystal and Jim Olsen of Signature Associates represented the seller, Mitten Dogs & More.  Jeff also represented the purchaser, Arabian House. About Signature Associates Signature Associates, with offices in Southfield, Detroit, Lansing, Grand […]

Shoppers at Woodland Mall have plenty new to see these days. Two years after workers demolished the former Sears store that once anchored the mall, Woodland officials on Thursday showed off a $100 million renovation project that replaces the space once occupied by the iconic retailer. The new wing is anchored by a Von Maur department store, […]

Downtown Grand Rapids’ latest attraction now is open to the public. Studio Park celebrated its grand opening today at 123 Ionia Ave. SW. The 62,500-square-foot development offers several dining and retail options, a 200-seat concert venue called the Listening Room, a nine-screen movie theater, luxury lofts and an outdoor piazza. The $160 million project is […]

When Grand Rapids-based Multi-Automatic Tool and Supply Co. started searching for prospective acquisitions several years ago, the move came as a reaction to many of the company’s customers buying directly from small shops.  Convinced that he needed to diversify his business in order to compete, President James Byl went looking for opportunities, but it took a few […]

Automotive supplier GHSP is expanding and moving its headquarters and engineering laboratory to the Holland Technical Center, MiBizhas learned. The company, a division of Grand Haven-based JSJ Corp., has leased 120,000 square feet of office space and 35,000 square feet of lab space at the facility located at South Waverly Road and East 32nd Street. The move nearly […]

The opportunity to lease brand new office space in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids offered Van Wyk Risk Solutions the chance to grow into a new location.  This month, Van Wyk will be the first tenant to move into the new Warner Building, located at 150 Ottawa Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. After outgrowing its […]

A manufacturer of adjustable-height table bases is considering building a new production facility in the area. J-Star Motion Corporation is looking to build a 275,000-square-foot facility that would create 50 jobs, according to federal grant application documents. The facility would be constructed on a portion of 55 acres of undeveloped land at 725 and 730 […]

Spectrum Health is planning to discontinue 26 leases and consolidate multiple departments into a new facility.  The Grand-Rapids-based health system plans to build a Center for Transformation and Innovation on the property it owns in Grand Rapids southwest of the Cornerstone University campus, at Leffingwell Avenue NE and Bradford Street NE, according to a statement […]

Grand Rapids is a millennial magnet. Grand Rapids is the No. 2 market in terms of recent “millennial movers,” according to the “Most Popular Areas for Millennials: Where They Move and Stay,” a report by the National Association of Realtors or NAR. NAR estimates, within the last year, millennials made up 73% of movers to […]

In recent years, the West Michigan village of Spring Lake found its downtown looking like those of many small villages around the state. Buildings sat empty and in disrepair, but with a small population of 2,323, it was hard to interest developers in taking on major and expensive projects. Until recently, a state program to […]

Depending on what you are looking for, the commercial real estate market in West Michigan may not be so favorable. According to some commercial real estate experts in the area, more properties are available for leasing, but fewer properties are available for sale. Jason Makowski, a partner and an office specialist at NAI Wisinski of […]

Renovations at Lyon Square and Calder Plaza, street improvements on Division Avenue, and sprucing up the outdoor plaza near Van Andel Arena are among the priorities outlined in the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority’s 2020 budget. Tim Kelly, president and CEO of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the entity that oversees the DDA, provided an overview […]

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN—November 29, 2018— Signature Associates has been awarded a 2018 Top Workplaces honor by The Detroit Free Press. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, […]

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN—March 29, 2018— CoStar Group has awarded its annual Power Broker Awards and honored Signature Associates with 31 “Power Broker” distinctions.  The Signature brokers account for 26% of the overall award winners and 43% of the industrial award winners.  In addition to the individual awards, Signature Associates, as a company, was named in the […]