Ferndale’s Small Business Boom

By, Crystal A. Proxmire

 

At least 13 new businesses are in the opening stages around Ferndale, many in the city’s ever-growing Downtown Central Business District (CDC).  Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Roosenberg says she’s having trouble keeping up with all the grand openings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies.  “We’re thinking of having a big new business celebration to tie into the Diablo’s opening, instead of a dozen different events,” she said.

 

Diablos is a large new Mexican restaurant expected to open within the next month at the old Rosie O’Grady’s location on 175 W. Troy. 

 

Across the street in the Ferndale Arts Building at 195 W. 9 Mile is The Exqusite Collection, a designer women’s clothing store that opened last month.  (See our fashion section for more info:  http://www.ferndale115.com/19p18fashion.html)

 

Around the corner at 22751 Woodward Avenue Rockin’ Soul offers trendy clothing for the 20-30 crowd, while up the street at 23337 Woodward Avenue is Ferndale’s new drag queen resale shop called Queen’s Dreams where plus sized women and men can shop for designer women’s fashions at reasonable prices.

 

On March 27, 2010 Designer Resale Botique at 22442 Woodward will have their grand opening ceremony.

 

Other stores opening in the area include The Green Thumb Garden Center at 22963 Woodward, Hair Studio 9 at 22841 Woodward, No Pins Required (a baby store specializing in pin-free, adorable-looking diapers) will be opening in Salon Rehe’s old space at 22446 Woodward.  Salon Rehe will be moving to Lofts on the 9, and Downtown Ferndale Bike Shop will be opening at 163 W. 9 Mile within the next couple of weeks.

 

Chiropractor Dr. Daniel Farkas has opened an office on Woodward, M1 Studios will be opening at an undisclosed location on Hilton, and a flower and event shoppe called Petit Fleur (http://petitfleurevents.blogspot.com) is also new at 23257 Woodward.

 

On the east side of town Continental Catering will be joining B Nektar at 1505 Jarvis, and Paper Street Motors will be home to several new small businesses.  The “business incubator” concept means that several offices and industrial occupants are able to share a large space at little cost to each of them.  Space is available for as little as $200 a month, with renters in the company of a career coach, a recording studio, a racecar builder and an industrial arts company.  (see www.ferndale115.com/19p4paperstreet.html)


In addition to the many new businesses, people in Ferndale await the July 10th opening of the new Ferndale Public Library at 222 E. 9 Mile.  (http://www.ferndale.lib.mi.us)

 

Area Chamber Executive Director Roosenberg says she is “overwhelmed and excited,” with all the new business openings.  “I don’t have anything to compare it to, but businesses like Ferndale because of a combination of affordable rent, the centrality of Ferndale and the access to these type of businesses target market.  Ferndale is known for having an active Downtown and businesses want to locate where the people are.”

 

The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce (www.ferndalechamber.com) and The Downtown Development Authority (www.downtownferndale.com) are good resources for people interested in learning about new or existing businesses, or for those who are thinking of opening businesses in the area.

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