Local Businesses

Marijuana and alcohol sales, a housing war chest for Chesterfield Hills, a new sorority for Cedar Village – decisions on all this and more at last night’s City Council meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem Erik Altmann and Mayor Mark Meadows have voted in favor of business plans and agreements that amount to at least $74 million in tax incentives for development over the last four years.

ELi’s Sarah Spohn examines the artistry of Paul Vetne, whose work will be on display throughout October at Red Cedar Spirits.

The East Lansing Arts Commission has been asked to review an ordinance that would give the City more control over the annual Art Festival. ELi’s Mark Meyer brings the story.

Foster Coffee, the first tenant on the Albert Avenue side of the downtown development known as Center City, has opened its doors. ELi's Sarah Spohn stopped in and brings us this story.

The East Lansing Rotary Club and Foundation's annual golf outing to support high school scholarships will happen next Monday, Sept. 9, at Forest Akers West. Bob Page brings the details.

Planning Commissioner Jack Cahill noted that use of Target’s state liquor license requires an approved local permit. Target doesn't have it yet. ELi’s Alice Dreger reports on Target’s and Jolly Pumpkin’s movement through the alcohol permitting process, which some Commissioners suggested be retired.

East Lansing Council members Erik Altmann, Shanna Draheim, and Mark Meadows said that in hindsight the City should have advertised the eBay auction of the million-dollar public property on Merritt Road. But they think the taxpayers have gotten a great deal.

More billboards in East Lansing, more sorority houses, more alcohol sales downtown, more revenue for the City, more coffee near the Amtrak station, more rental licenses: all that plus the eBay land deal, depending on how the votes go. ELi brings you up to speed.

Photos by Raymond Holt capture what ELi readers reported on Twitter yesterday: it's hard to figure out where you can walk downtown right now. Mark Meyer reports.

Responding to a reader's question, an investigation by ELi's Amalia Medina and Alice Dreger looks at what it takes for East Lansing restaurants to offer outdoor seating downtown. Spoiler alert: they would pay a lot less in Ann Arbor.

ELi's Sarah Spohn takes us inside the house at Hagadorn and Grand River Avenue and into a world bursting with color and camaraderie. B/A Florist has been in the business of selling flowers for 40 years because of the community relationships the staff has cultivated over the past four decades.

“We have had a gratifying and exciting time in the thirty years we have been doing business as Mackerel Sky Gallery," says Linda Dufelmeier. So why is this East Lansing institution planning to close at the end of this year?

Why do City staff say it's OK for Target to be selling alcohol without the required local permit, and how is the alcohol-selling landscape of East Lansing's downtown shaping up with big redevelopment? ELi's Alice Dreger reports.

Greg Ballein says more parking is critical to sustaining businesses downtown. Erik Altmann says it’s time to stop “inducing” driving and parking. The debate at Thursday’s meeting of the East Lansing DDA was intense.