TC?s Warehouse District Welcomes You: Holiday Open House Showcases Progress

If you ask Mike Curths, he will tell you that all great communities in this country have a “Warehouse District.” Since opening his InsideOut Gallery a couple of years ago in what has been labeled Traverse City’s Warehouse District, Curths has been an advocate for revitalizing and promoting the area. He has joined with other businesses to host the Progressive Holiday Open House this Friday for what they hope is the start of a series of events to take place in the Downtown Traverse City Warehouse District.

WHERE THE FUN BEGINS...
The area known as the “Warehouse District” in Traverse City begins at the corner of West Grandview Parkway and Union Street and heads down the Parkway to Hall Street, to Front Street, and then along Front to the Boardman River; then along the river back to Union Street.
The Progressive Holiday Open House will feature 12 merchants who will offer in-store giveaways, free food, beverages and entertainment. The evening will close with raffle prizes and a gift certificate giveaway, along with a free concert. There is no cost for the event. According to Curths, the evening has been set up in a typical progressive party format.
“With a progressive party, there is a starting point and a finishing point. What we have done is printed a map on a postcard, and we’re encouraging people to start at number one and follow the map,” said Curths. “That way they
end up at the InsideOut Gallery where the drawings and concert take place.
You must be present to win one of the raffle items.”
AND WHERE THE DISTRICT BEGAN
The emergence of the Warehouse District has been building in recent years as several businesses began relocating and renovating several of the old buildings. A loose-knit organization was formed to promote the area because businesses there felt all the focus on Downtown Traverse City was mainly over two blocks on Front Street.
“Those two blocks are important, but Traverse City is more than just two blocks on Front Street,” said Curths. “What gives this community character are all of these districts, such as Old Town, Slab Town and The Red Mill District next to us. The Warehouse District is really unique as well, and this community needs to market and promote all of these areas. So what we are doing is stepping up and promoting the Warehouse District.”
For Curths and the others, they see their Warehouse District as not only a place for commerce, but as a connector to the other parts of the community.
“This is very much a walkable town, and The Warehouse District adds to that,” said Curths. “We are very much proponents to collaborating and connecting with the other parts of town.”
While there is no formality to their organization at this time, Curths said they have a pretty aggressive agenda.
“First of all, we meet once a month. Maybe at some point we will formalize the group. But our focus right now is signage and the boardwalk along the Boardman River,” said Curths. “If we want this to be a walkable community, then the city needs to create signage; not just for us, but for the whole town. Wayfinding is part of all successful communities, and the appropriate signage that is not intrusive can be put into place. At this point, city leaders have been unwilling. The same can be said for the stretch of the Boardman River that runs through the Warehouse District; it has a boardwalk, but growth of trees and bushes have made it off limits to the public.”

NEW COMMISSION, NEW GROWTH
So do Curths and his comrades think that the newly elected City Commission will view things differently?
“Absolutely. Some have pegged them (the newly elected mayor and commissioners) as anti-business and anti-growth,” said Curths. “Actually, I think they are going to be great for the business climate in Traverse City, because they are about seeing that the right type of businesses locate here and that the growth is also right for this community.”
After The Progressive Holiday Party, the Warehouse District will look to host a half dozen events in 2008.
“We are exploring a Boardman River Festival, possibly a blues and BBQ festival,” said Curths. “Essentially we are looking at events that celebrate food, art, style and our way of life here in Northern Michigan.”
Most of the recently opened businesses in the Warehouse District are part of the informal group. With the exception of Bay West Antiques, the long-standing businesses in the District, including The Traverse City Visitors Bureau, have yet to jump on board.
“Some of them are still trying to figure it all out. We are not being critical; we are just moving forward, and we expect more and more to jump on board as we become more visible,” said Curths. “What we are doing here is expanding the mindset of the community. Warehouse Districts exist all over the country. What we are is another reason for people to come downtown to shop and hang out. So this Progressive Holiday Open House is an invitation for people of this region to learn more about us and what we have to offer here.”

sidebar:
The Downtown Traverse City Warehouse District Progressive Holiday Open House is Friday, November 30 from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., with drawings for raffle prizes starting at 9:15p.m. at the InsideOut Gallery. You must be present to win. Each store will offer complimentary refreshments, and event organizers encourage participants to start at By Candlelight Amish Furnishings and follow the map from there.For additional details contact Mike Curths at 231.929.3254.

View On Our Website