In July, Michigan lawmakers voted to phase out the tip credit system, and correspondingly raise the minimum wage for tipped workers to $15 an hour. However, local business owners and MSU student service workers are concerned that this shift will negatively impact their industry.
Handie, a fast-casual Nigerian restaurant, is bringing a new flavor to East Lansing. The eatery opened last month and features a diverse menu of authentic Nigerian specialities such as Jollof rice, suya and fufu and egusi.
Every summer, MSU students vacate the usually busy downtown of East Lansing and return by the thousands a few months later for the back to school rush. These cycles are a fact of life in a college town, but how do these patterns affect local storefronts and restaurants that remain here year-round?
By 8 a.m., an hour before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the line to enter the store was wrapped around the full parking lot.
Members of Black student groups at Michigan State University say employees who want to celebrate Juneteenth are put in a bind by university policies.
The Student Start Up of the Year Award was given to Reel Free, a medical technology, or MedTech, startup co-founded by brothers Alexander and Austin Pollock and supported by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
The East Lansing Art Festival and the MSU Arts and Crafts Show took over north campus and the downtown streets Saturday and Sunday, replacing the typical weekend traffic with the tents of over 200 combined art vendors.
Meet Lonnie Smith, co-founder of House of Soles, a sneaker shop located in Downtown East Lansing, which held its grand reopening on May 11. The reopening is part of a passion all for the love of sneakers.
Childhood friends Paul Reiss and Michael Meadows were tired of the chalky protein bar taste and just "wanted to eat ice cream all the time." The answer? Protein Pints.
Local flower shop, B/A Florist, holds a long history of love and family rooted in its values.
Haraz Coffee House, a Yemeni chain, is set to open in East Lansing on Monday.
A new program has taken Michigan State University's campus by storm this past year. The Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation has partnered with Student-Made: An organization that provides a space for student creators to run their own small businesses right from the comfort of their college campus.
Lansing is home to a wide variety of Black-owned businesses, from cheesecake connoisseurs to skincare specialists.
Candy and soda chain Rocket Fizz may be new to Grand River Avenue, having opened early February , but it isn’t new to the Lansing area. “This used to be in Eastwood Towne Center,” Pitsch said. “It’s been a lot busier for sure (since moving). We have twice the amount of space and … a larger variety of items, like more Japanese and European candy.”
Archives Book Store is set to close down in East Lansing. “One of the things I'm going to miss is a lot of the interpersonal communication with a lot of the individuals who have been or become regular customers over the years,” Owner Ray Walsh said. “I know what they're looking for, and I save stuff for them and they come in and say ‘You got it.’ And that's part of the joy of being a bookseller is kind of filling collector's needs and wants.”
Midwesterners are well aware that the summers are blistering and the winters are hypothermic. It’s a dual contract of extremity that every Michigander must note when deciding to live here. However, for small businesses across Lansing, the winter weather impacts more than just the roads.
Mash had its grand opening today, joining in at East Lansing's newest nightlife location.
Starbucks is selling an increasingly popular Michigan State University-themed coffee mug at campus locations and most stores close to East Lansing. The mug, complete with MSU’s most recognizable buildings and landmarks, is in high demand, according to Starbucks Barista Kelsey Pink.
Despite contending with Michigan's unpredictable weather and the looming threat of a winter storm, the East Lansing community enthusiastically gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Dave's Hot Chicken this Friday. Located just off Grand River Ave, the restaurant beckons with a tempting array of chicken-based meals, complemented by an assortment of sides and unique drinks. The fast-casual restaurant chain originated in California and established its sixth Michigan location in East Lansing. Although the official grand-opening festivities took place on Friday, the restaurant quietly opened its doors earlier.
