Some random observations from driving around town today -
1. The Hooters in Portage has closed!
No word on what may take its place yet, but it apparently
shut its doors end of February. Honestly, I'm surprised it lasted this long. It seems like the company's days are numbered, with the number of US locations dropping greater than 7% between 2012 and 2016. I never went there, and don't know a single other person that did either. This closure follows the recent closing of Panchero's, located nearby on S. Westnedge Ave.
2. Crossroads Mall appears do be doing well, but it's also a bit of a mess -
I've been to Crossroads Mall maybe three times in the nearly three years that I've lived here. That third time was today, when I had occasion to go clothes shopping (which has also probably only happened about 3 times in my life). I will say that as far as conventional, interior-oriented suburban malls go, this one seems to be doing well. It has a near-100% vacancy rate, a decent number of shoppers for mid-day work week, signs of new stores opening this Spring / Summer, and still four anchor tenants (Macy's, Sear's, JC Penny's, and Burlington Coat Factory). That said, the anchor stores feel disheveled and a bit of a mess, with a lot of merchandise strewn about the floor and unorganized on the racks.
3. There's a new coffee shop downtown Kalamazoo -
Located at the
Corner of Rose St. and Kalamazoo Ave, across from the Amtrak Station. It must have had a very quiet opening, because I didn't hear about it. I didn't even catch the name of it as I drove past and still can't find anything online about it.
Update: it is called Civil House Coffee Co. MLive did a story on it on March 16, 2018.
4. Lunch at 600 Kitchen & Bar in The Foundry -
Millennium Restaurant Group's newest endeavor, 600 Kitchen & Bar, opened a little while ago and we checked it out today for lunch. The food is good, the atmosphere is great. I like what they did with the place. Hopefully it will serve some small role in connecting Kalamazoo's east side to the downtown better, because there's currently an urban desert of roads, train tracks, and industrial uses between downtown and here that makes for a short but unpleasant walk. Preliminary site work for Phase 2 of The Foundry project has been underway for a while now.
As an aside, I stumbled upon these '10 Commandments of Westnedge Avenue' which are quite funny (and very true). If there are any other locals out there reading this, you may agree -
Quote:
1. Thou shalt not try to turn left onto Westnedge unless one is at a light.
2. Westnedge has a hill. Thou shalt enjoy the view, but only briefly, heading north.
3. The Milham intersection is ideal for texting whalst thou waits for the light.
4. Thoust will never see a pedestrian on the Pedestrian Bridge.
5. If thou goes fast enough crossing Westnedge on Romence going west, thou hast a good chance of getting air born...I hear.
6. Thou must go slow out of the Toys R Us parking lot or possibly lose one's back bumper.
7. If thou misses the turn you'll end up on Shaver Road.
8. Thou shalt never try to get over to the farthest lane from where you are.
9. Thou shalt know the speed limit changes or suffer the wrath of road rage.
10. The Psychic Of Michigan doesn't know you're coming.
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Source:
K102.5