Want to add something new and bright to your wardrobe? Looking for that special gift to give the mother in your life on Mother’s Day? You'll want to stop by Retail Therapy in Okemos, a shop with gifts, accessories and clothing for women of all ages, tastes and sizes. Estelle Saltzman, who owned a similar shop in Saginaw, opened this one last August when her physician husband took a position at Sparrow Hospital. The Okemos shop’s location was perfect and it was move-in ready. “The decor Read more [...]

You don’t have to be a trained artist to create a work of art. Simple tools, a clean canvas and some encouragement are all you need to repurpose a simple household item — everything from a wooden picture frame to a wine glass — from ordinary to arty. And in the process, you can have fun, too. That’s the focus of a trio of local artists and friends who opened a new shop in an older building in downtown Okemos last month. Painter Vivian Dwyer, art professor Susie Brewster and Leslie Read more [...]

When Marcy Bishop Kates worked as a grant writer for Michigan's AmeriCorp, she dreamed of starting her own business some day. Her entrepreneurial spirit was satisfied in July 2011 when she founded Incu-BaKe, LLC, a commercial kitchen licensed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Kates aspired to be a professional cook. When she went hunting for a kitchen to rent in the Lansing area that could accommodate her needs, she came up short. The closest Incu-BaKe facility was located in Kalamazoo. Read more [...]

Pamper yourself or a loved on this Valentine's Day with a gift from Steven L. Marvin Salon and Wellness Spa. Join the salon in celebrating its 30 year anniversary throughout 2013. Located in Holt, the salon is an Aveda Concept salon. Besides traditional hair and nail care, the spa offers many services for personal care, from facials to massages, body waxing to hairstyling, the services are meant to refresh your body and renew your spirit. Steven Marvin bought the business in 1983 and has Read more [...]

A new business in Okemos will make quite a splash in the New Year. Goldfish Swim School, a year-round program for children from 4 months to 12 years of age, offers instruction like none other in the area. Located just off of Marsh Road, Goldfish hosted its first swim classes on Dec. 5 with more than 70 children registered. The facility is state of the art. The pool is tailored for the comfort of the children. The water temperature is kept at 90 degrees, and instead of harsh chlorine, it’s Read more [...]

The holiday season is a time to give and receive. Two local women, who brought Seniors Helping Seniors to the area earlier this year, live and breathe this sentiment every day. Romy Crawford owns the business that provides in-home service to senior citizens from senior citizens; her cousin Robin McCrimmon is director of operations. “I never thought I'd be running a business,” Crawford said. But earlier this year, she found herself doing just that. Fresh from completing her master’s Read more [...]

Feeling harried about the upcoming hectic holidays? Worried about putting on unwanted weight this winter? East Lansing's State of Fitness might just be the answer to help ease your state of mind. A membership can help you jump-start your New Year's resolution. Unlike most resolves you make, the owners and personal trainers have a plan to help you meet and keep your fitness goals. The key is to focus on the individual. Co-owners Rebecca Klinger and Justin Grinnell started the club a couple Read more [...]

The City of Williamston invites visitors to “Discover the Charm” — earlier this year, the city added a new charm to discover. Nestled in the heart of downtown Williamston, on the second floor of Keller’s Plaza, is Organic Eats & Treats, LLC. The shop, co-owned by sisters Cindy Wikstrom-Kroll and Linda Kibby, opened in May. Kroll has a degree in business and Kibby has experience running a business. They both have a passion for making healthy eating fun and affordable. The Read more [...]

Making people happy is Ann Nguyen’s mission and frozen yogurt is her passion. Mix those two ingredients together, and you get Sugar Berry — a parlor that serves up flavorful frozen yogurt and fresh, fun toppings. Nguyen opened a new shop on the west side of Lansing in June of this year. It joins Nguyen’s first Sugar Berry that she opened at the end of 2010 in the Frandor area. She selected the Frandor location because it gets a lot of traffic. This second spot accommodates her customers Read more [...]

Bowling has gone big, offering families throughout the greater Lansing area a new form of fun. Spare Time Entertainment Center, the former site of Holiday Lanes near Frandor, recently opened its doors. Owners Michael and Nancy MacColeman and their children purchased the building and transformed it from a single purpose facility to a center with activities for people of all ages and interests. “It has something for everyone from 5 year olds to 95 year olds,” said daughter Meredith Read more [...]

If you’re looking for the perfect birthday or wedding gift this summer, you might want to visit Comforts N Joy Boutique at Central Park Place in Okemos. The boutique features high-quality items made from silk imported from China. From men’s ties to women’s scarves, cashmere clothing to bed linens and much more, owner Kathleen Maxwell is sharing her passion for luxury items and Chinese culture with the greater Lansing community. Photo by Mary McElgunn Silk is warm to the eye and cool to Read more [...]

If you wanted to open up a new shop that sells old treasures, you couldn’t find a better spot than Lansing’s Old Town. That’s what owners Ron Cosson, Dave Polston and Mike Polston discovered when they first opened up Greenfield Collection Antiques in Old Town. And that’s where they chose to remain when they needed to relocate to a larger space that could accommodate their growing, one-of-a-kind eclectic collection. Not only does the new location at 117 E. Grand River Ave. afford them Read more [...]