Main Street in Progress-- A Living Room Update

When we’re expecting guests, we tidy up the living room to make a good impression. We pick up the toys, bring dirty dishes to the sink, set up the table tops and dust a little. The same takes place in Cheboygan’s main street. And with all the changes in the city center, it’s obvious that the family is gathering – and the guests are coming soon.

Main Street is like everyone’s living room. it reflects the value people place on their community. If Main Street is well maintained, it is assumed that there are other resources in the city as well. If your living room is comfortable, stylish, and neat, people assume the rest of your home is too.

In 2016 there were empty buildings at 21 Main Street. That drove the rapid growth of the Bring IT Cheboygan! Volunteer group. We realized that these empty shop windows signaled that no one was home. There was no power along Main Street to attract friends and family.

The Bring IT group cleaned all the windows in the empty storefronts and put up seasonal displays to give Main Street a sense of abundance, balance and caring in the community. Bring IT volunteers who showed up at community events. They supported the Walk4Warmth, welcomed the members and exhibits of the car show on the East Side, pulled weeds across the city’s sidewalks, and weeded and mulched the Circle Garden at the trailhead. The group also advocated that the city council pass the Michigan Main Street program.

Cheboygan Main Street was a success in coordinating diverse groups to work together. The Main Street DDA board members are all active on governing committees to carry out a long list of innovative projects. There’s a new focus on community identity, branding, and alignment. While maintaining the historic nature of Cheboygan, the Main Street program is designed to support the business community and boost the local economy. However, Cheboygan’s main street has been changing steadily since 2016.

When the Costins had repeated success with pop-up vacation shops, residents begged them to open a full-time boutique. Fortunately, residents and visitors supported Simply Marcella, which in turn spurred further investment. Next, the Langes invested in real estate on Main Street to open the Nauti Inn Barstro gift shop and bought another building.

One by one, buildings were sold, repurposed, renovated and reopened. The former Gables B&B has been restored to its breathtaking historical splendor. Nourish, with healthy menu options, was launched alongside the successful yoga business of Christy Stempky and Emily Eckhart. Mother Nature’s Remedies were opened to offer holistic, healthy alternatives. Urban Bird owner Lindsey Miller brought unique boutique items to Main Street for younger customers. The King Family Hive North Mead and Cider Hall introduced a variety of delicious beverages in a cozy atmosphere with entertainment from local artists. The former hardware store dive shop has been converted into 4 stylish, modern apartments along the Cheboygan River by the Flemings. Cannabis company owners have renovated several tired-looking or vacant properties. Buildings have been updated, renovated, painted and redone along Main Street. The process continues today.

Several major projects are currently underway. The “Bunny Wall” building is finally being renovated. The building has been a thorn in the side for years and is in a prime location next to the festival site. It is in the midst of a breathtaking transformation. And soon the renovation of the “Purple Tree” building will begin. Four apartments to be built on the second level and a handicapped-accessible unit on the ground floor will bring the urgently needed living space into the city center.

So, if you think anything will never change in Cheboygan, think again! Celebrate the entrepreneurs and innovators who make a difference in our inner city. Patronize them and support their businesses. Take your summer visitors to Main Street to enjoy the Thursday night summer events. Let’s show our living room!

Sherry Nelson is a retired newspaper entrepreneur. Volunteer projects include the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association and Bring IT Cheboygan! She is also a member of the Cheboygan Historic Resources Commission. To join the Bring IT network, send an email to: [email protected].