Work nearly done on Broad St storefronts in Dexter

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

The road to renovation hasn't been the easy for two storefronts on Broad Street in downtown Dexter, but the bottom line is what really counts. The good news is that work on the storefronts, 3126 and 3115 Broad, is nearly done. The owner is putting the finishing touches on them.

"It turned out a lot better that I thought it would," says Randy Willis, owner of 3115 and 3126 Broad. "My masonry company went bankrupt halfway through the job."

That means it took many times longer to finish the new façade and awning job than expected, but Willis says everyone is paid and happy and the job is "98 percent finished." The new occupants of the late 19th Century industrial buildings are also 96-98 percent moved in, filling up the space.

"I'm 100 percent leased," Willis says.

The diverse group of businesses are occupying them. An off-Broadway musical company is in 3126 Broad's 8,500 square feet while several other businesses are in 3115 Broad. They include Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and Dexter School of Martial Arts in the 3115 Broad's 12,000 square feet.

The two buildings have had varied pasts, serving as the home for bus garages, beer-and-wine distributors, a dye-and-stamping shop and a bean sprouts grow house.

Source: Randy Willis, owner of 3115 and 3126 Broad Street
Writer: Jon Zemke