New businesses in downtown Mount Pleasant continue to do well through tough economy

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Mount Pleasant has remained a thriving community for small businesses despite Michigan’s hardships and economic downturn.

Over the past several of years a variety of small businesses have cropped up downtown, challenging the notion that Michigan is not a growing state, said Downtown Development Director Michelle Sponseller.

Because areas like downtown Mount Pleasant are already established, Sponseller said, it is the perfect place to begin a new business.

“With inventory they can watch closely with what sells and what doesn’t, and then change it accordingly,” she said. “It’s a lot harder for larger stores to track these things.”

Restaurants, clothing boutiques and grocery stores are just some of the businesses that have helped expand the growth of the area.

One way of keeping small businesses strong is introducing new items to customers.

June Bonstelle, owner of June’s Boutique, 201 1/2 E. Broadway St., said her business has been doing well.

The store, which sells clothing and accessories, has been open since December.

“We started carrying baby items about three weeks ago,” Bonstelle said. “It has done really well. We sold over half of it in the first week.”

People seeking a natural way of life can find products and classes to help them at Crystal Mountain Lotus Moon, 206 S. Main St.

The store has a small, regularly growing customer base since opening, said co-owner John Marsden.

“We’re trying to get the body work moving right now,” he said. “That includes massage and energy work. Our classes, such as belly dancing, are also busy.”

For businesses to grow, many make the move to a new location, such as Emma’s Boutique and Four Seasons Floral.

Kim Lovejoy, owner of Emma’s Basement Boutique, 111 S. University, said business has increased 30 percent since the store moved into a new building.

“Now that I’m in a bigger store I can keep aisles big and clear, and all kinds of customers can come in, like moms with strollers,” Lovejoy said. “Now people drive by and are interested in the pink storefront, which draws them in.”

The boutique now offers a larger variety of products, such as maternity wear.

The increased space also helps create a more pleasurable shopping experience, she said.

Katie Ellis, manager of Four Seasons Floral, said the new location at 2223 S. Mission St. has helped increase the number of customers coming in.

“Business has been running smoothly with the second store,” Ellis said. “It has really helped being right off campus.”