Part II - Business, a supplement to the Big Rapids Pioneer Newspaper. Used with permission.



MALLS ATTRACTS SHOPPERS

Shopping is a part-time enjoyed by many people and through the years, Big Rapids has continued to define itself through different shopping locations developed throughout the area.

Meijer, a Super Wal-Mart and Lowe's are some of the most recent additions to the area's long list of shopping centers.

Some of the first shopping draws for the area included the Southland Shopping Center on State Strret and Giantway on Michigan Avenue in downtown Big Rapids.

Southland Center today is home to Rite Aid, Blockbuster Video and soon the Qdoba Mexican Grill. The former Giantway complex now houses Big Rapids Furniture, the Big Rapids Secretary of State Office and a dollar store to name a few of its current occupants.

Also developed in the downtown Big Rapids area was a shopping center directly across the street from the Giantway Complex.

The shopping center, nestled today between Chemical Bank and Dunkin Donuts, now serves as a location for the Cakery's Party Zone, among others.

Another downtown mall constructed when Big Rapids underwent its urban renewal was the shopping mall, located across from what is now J.C. Penney.

South of town, the W.T. Grant Mall on Northland Drive was developed in the early 1970's. K-Mart and Carter's grocery store were first located here before relocating to a center on Perry Street. Sav-A-Lot now is housed here, along with Mad Dog's Deli and Sears.

As US 131 was built and Perry Street connected to the major north and south freeway shopping centers began popping up along this corredor.

The first shopping location was Sattler's Square, which oped in 1989. This location now is home to Buig Lots and Sam Goody, along with Domino's pizza and a variety of other stores and restaurants.

The second mall developed along this corridor was anchored by Kmart and Carter's and today still houses Kmart, Goodwill, a dollar store and Payless shoe store.

Not all current area development has occurred west of State Strret, however. The most recent shopping center addition tio Big Rapids includes the Trailside Crossing Mall on South Third Street, which opened in January 2005.

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