New signs point to growth in downtown

While Ann Arbor is mourning the loss of another unique business downtown, Middle Earth, with chain retailers slowly moving in, Tecumseh is seeing the growth of local, independent businesses.“Here’s where we are super lucky in our downtown, we don’t have a single chain,” said Paula Holtz, Tecumseh Economic Development Director, “Instead, we have locally owned, operated, unique businesses that you can’t find anywhere else. That’s a really good thing.” Tecumseh’s growth is accentuated by the impending introduction of two new restaurants downtown, Salsaria’s and Tecumseh Brewing Company, which are moving along. Both businesses are working towards completion, soon adding more of an evening element downtown.Salsaria’s is a Brownfield site, which has slowed some aspects of the project. Before waste can be disposed of at the landfill from the site, it has to be approved. “That could have been a very blighted property in our downtown after some time,” said Holtz about the Salsaria’s property. A number of new lofts are also in various stages of completion above a handful number of businesses downtown. Dan Meikle’s lofts above Tecumseh Antiques & More are seeing drywall being put up, while second floor of the Spotted Cow should receive its permit next week to start putting in office space. Carpet On Wheel’s will have blueprints ready for the lofts above their business shortly. “We’ve got a lot of projects going on in downtown and a ton of new investment,” said Holtz. “We’ve got a lot of private investment currently that we haven’t seen the likes of in a decade probably.”These types of businesses and attractions give Tecumseh a unique offering to tourists, which the city has been trying to attract with its Pure Michigan campaign and listing on Michigan.org. The city sends out tourist packets through requests. Last year the city sent 750 packets in total. So far this year, the city has sent out 846. Holtz said that the city has had a really great response. “The good news about these is its not just some random, targeted mailer,” said Holtz. “These are people who specifically asked for information on Tecumseh.”In July of this year, Tecumseh was the 75th most clicked property on Michigan.org, up from 273rd the previous July, which is the last month Holtz had information on. In order to attract both tourists and businesses, the City of Tecumseh is revamping its website in order to better serve those looking for information.“A lot of businesses will do a huge percentage of their research before reaching out to us,” Holtz said.The next project the Economic Development Department hopes to work on is redeveloping the N. Evans Street corridor and developing a larger farmer’s market atmosphere.“I would really like to see some activity along that corridor,” Holtz said. “We’ve got some good stuff going on. I think we have a good story to tell.”