’Fig Tree’ transplanted

The Fig Tree, a gift, book and Bible store in downtown Owosso, has moved to a larger location in a landmark building formerly occupied by Carpenter’s Corner at downtown Owosso’s main intersection. Owner Doug Peterson said that with the increase in space—from 2,500 to 7,000 square feet—he is able to increase book and Bible inventory, as well as add new and unique gift items.

Martin W. Busch, long-time owner of two apparel stores in Ann Arbor—Marty’s Menswear and His Lady—died at age 82 on January 12 in Nashville, Tennessee, following a brief illness. He also owned two apparel stores in East Lansing before retiring in 1990.

Mr. Busch served on the board of Michigan Retailers Association and was also active in Ann Arbor’s State Street Business Association.

June 7 is the scheduled opening day for Michigan’s first Ikea—a massive furniture store known for its affordable, trendy, Swedish designs. Construction of the 311,000-square-foot store in Canton Township is more than halfway complete, and applications are being accepted for the nearly 400,000 positions at the store, according to store Manager Mark McCaslin.

Ray Allegreeza, editor-in-chief of Furniture Today, says that local competitors tend to get a boost when a new Ikea store opens. “Once you get customers to thinking about furniture, they may go to a competitor that has what they’re looking for.”

Phase I of Woodpointe Crossings, a strip mall on East Beltline Avenue in Grand Rapids, is open for business. Construction has also begun on the second phase of the project, which should be completed by June. Its location between two busy malls—Woodland Shopping Center and Centerpointe Mall—was the primary attraction for its developers, Retail Development Group of Walker.

Meijer is adding “Early Solutions Clinics” to some of its Michigan locations, joining other national chains—Target, Wal-Mart, Kroger and CVS—with similar health clinics in some locations. Clinics opened in the Walker-based retailer’s Taylor and Burton locations in January, and plans are underway to open at least three more by the summer.

The clinics offer limited health care services from nurse practitioners for fixed prices; no appointments are necessary and the clinics are open on nights and weekends. Meijer will not share in the profits of Fenton-based Early Solutions, but expects traffic from the clinics will increase sales in its stores and pharmacies.

Three Sears Essentials stores—in Rochester Hills, Warren and Brighton—are among 50 that will become Sears Grand as Sears Holding Corp. phases out the Essentials name only a year after launching the Essentials concept. A spokesperson for the Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based retailer did not know when the conversion of the Michigan stores would begin.

The larger, stand-alone Sears Grand stores sell groceries as well as its usual merchandise on one floor to compete more directly with Wal-Mart and Target.

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