Gail's Office Supply celebrates 75th anniversary

Gail’s Office Supply, Detroit, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. The business was founded in 1927 by cousins Archibald Trowbridge and Max Gail, who started a small stationery store in the Penobscot Building in downtown Detroit.

Gail’s continues to operate an office products store in the Penobscot Building, with additional locations in Birmingham and Wyandotte. Current owner and president Ann Gail, daughter of founder Max Gail, serves as chair of MRA’s Retailers Fund Board of Trustees.

The Michigan Retailers Association sponsored a sculpture in downtown Lansing’s Sculpture in the Streets exhibit of works by J. Seward Johnson Jr. The life-size bronze sculptures depicting people in everyday situations will be on display at various locations in downtown through the end of August.

MRA was encouraged to become involved in Sculpture in the Streets by former MRA Chair Jan Hayhow and her husband, David, a member of the Principal Shopping District board, which brought the exhibit to Lansing. The Hayhows helped sponsor another sculpture.

The Opening Gala and Sculpture Premiere on May 31 were well attended, bringing some 300 people to the downtown business district. The exhibit is expected to raise up to $75,000 for downtown revitalization and beautification.

Lansing retailers who sponsored sculptures or contributed to the exhibit were Beaner’s Gourmet Coffee, Kositchek’s, The Mole Hole, Insty-Prints Downtown, Mr. Toad’s Paper Company, Saper Galleries, Linn & Owen Jewelers, Barb’s Hallmark, Ma-Ah’s Inc., The Yellow Strawberry, Michigania and Lansing Art Gallery.

Patrick Heller, owner of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, was the sole retailer to serve among the 25 members of the Michigan Quarter Commission.

Appointed by Gov. John Engler, the commission selected five recommended designs for the back of Michigan’s state quarter, which will be released in 2004. The designs were approved by the governor in April and sent to the U.S. Mint, which will select a final design later this year.

A new mixed-use development in downtown South Haven will add up to six new retail shops in the city.

The new $1.6 million building, Phoenix Court, will fill an empty lot on Phoenix Street. It is expected to open in late August and contain residential and retail space—six condominiums, a jewelry store, a tea room, a candy store and other shops.

“This is the first new construction that has taken place downtown in 20 years,” South Haven Mayor Jim Mills told the South Haven Daily Tribune. The project is expected to spur additional development along Eagle and Kalamazoo streets.

The Hurwitz family, owners of Rogers Department Store in Grand Rapids, broke ground in May on an upscale shopping center in Grand Rapids Township.

The Terrazzo center will feature 12 stores, anchored by a designer clothing shop operated by the Hurwitz family and a D&W Food Centers gourmet grocery. Both store formats are new concepts for the two retailers. Other planned tenants include a restaurant, a jewelry store and a home furnishings store.

The center is expected to open next spring.

Frank’s Nursery & Crafts, Troy, emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 20.

The chain filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2001. Frank’s has since reduced its number of stores from 263 to 170 and plans to focus on lawn and garden, home decor and seasonal merchandise, eliminating most craft products.

Kim Horner was named senior vice president, merchandising and marketing, coming to Frank’s from Zany Brainy Inc. in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Eastwood Towne Center, a new shopping complex in Lansing Township, is slated to open in September. The 192-acre, $100 million development will include 65 retail tenants when fully leased, plus Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and an 18-screen movie theater.
The center will include a wide range of national retail chains as well as a few local stores. Lowe’s Home Improvement is also considering locating in the center.

Shelley Darmetko was named marketing director for Oakland Mall in Troy. She previously served as marketing director for WLLC 106.7 FM in Detroit.

Bill and Gale Watts, longtime residents of Harbor Beach, are the new owners of B and G Hardware in downtown Harbor Beach. The staff also includes Gale’s sister, Marjorie Roggenbuck.

The business was formerly known as Biroscak Hardware and had been owned and operated by Joe and Elsie Biroscak for 25 years. Joe Biroscak will assist the Watts during the transition period.

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