Feb. 21 HBA Breakfast Club recap

We filled the house at this month’s meeting! Here’s a taste
of the topics we discussed.

Road work ahead. HBA board member Ben Rambadt (TowerPinkster) brought attendees up to speed on our proposals for enhancements to South Division between Fulton and Oakes. (On-street parking is already in the works for early spring.) … Meanwhile, Juan Torres (City of Grand Rapids) provided us with a roadmap for reconstruction of the intersection of Fulton and Division starting in July and continuing into 2025.

Refreshing Heartside’s look and feel. The HBA is working with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and other organizations to revamp our neighborhood’s branding. HBA president Matthew Rothenberg (ArtRat Gallery) talked about progress on a relaunch of the HBA website and social media, while vice president Josie Garcia (Cocoon Art Space) discussed an initiative to add sponsored banners throughout Heartside.

Welcome to the neighborhood! We heard from new additions to the Heartside business community:

• Travis Treadway (Grammotones) represented this just-opened South Division shop, which sells upcycled fashion (with a focus on music) while providing a venue for events and a production studio for photography, videography and podcasting. …
• Nick Jenkins (Big Mini Putt Club) wants to make Heartside the destination for his first miniature golf course outside the Chicago area when he launches a new location at 70 Ionia Ave. SW. Nick shared plans for merch, tournaments, memberships and more. We’re pulling for him to open the course by Labor Day! …
• Omar Arredondo and Kenny Acker (Aves Films) talked about their hopes to open a space in Heartside for the minority-owned production company, which has worked with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., the City of Grand Rapids and ArtPrize to tell stories of the city. The Aves Films team also screened a trailer for Volador,a short film shot in Grand Rapids.

More events in 2024! HBA members offered updates on planned activations to bring visitors to Heartside, including free concerts in Pekich Park and the return of our FAM on SoDIV and Heart🧡Prize events. Stay tuned for much more!

Meanwhile, Josie Garcia previewed I 💙 Recycled Art, an art and fashion festival that runs March 1 to April 28 throughout South Division’s art galleries and vintage stores … Board member Alex Witulski (GR Downtown Market) touted GRDM’s Slithering Sunday and Boho Market, happening March 10 and March 24, respectively … Zachary Trebellas (Avenue for the Arts) discussed the 2024 edition of the Break It Down | Make It Better conference …  Sarah Cash (The 12th House) invited us to an April 12 fundraiser for the queer-owned, woman-owned “metaphysical gift shop” on Jefferson Ave. … And board member Kailey Smith-Barth (ArtPrize) laid out 2024 registration dates for Grand Rapids’ big, big art show!

Take your place at the table!

Want a say in HBA priorities and Heartside’s economic future? Join us the third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Taste Buds-Kitchen Connects (122 Division Ave. S). We’ll provide breakfast and coffee, and you’ll get the inside line from Grand Rapids officials, organizations and business leaders about news and updates that will affect YOUR business.

Want to promote your organization to Heartside’s business leadership? Email us to be a featured Breakfast Club speaker!