Some of downtown Grosse Pointe's old retail buildings are in line to get some new facades.
First up is the Blockbuster video store on Kercheval. The single-story storefront is really a conglomeration of buildings with the oldest dating back to the 1920s. It has a crumbling brick front and a real need for other exterior touch-ups.
"It's just pretty tired," says Robert Wood, owner of Grosse Pointe-based Robert Wood & Associates. "It's one of the worst buildings in the village."
Wood is designing the new facade. He expects to replace the crumbling brick and spruce up the exterior so it fits with the downtown's character. The back entrance, where 75 percent of the average customer traffic enters and exits, will also be redesigned.
He hopes to start work as soon as possible and have it finished within two months. The business will remain open during construction. If everything goes according to plan, the Ann Taylor Loft store facade next door will be next to go later this summer.
"We'll probably be looking at that one next," Wood says. "You hope to start a trend and the other building owners start redoing their fronts."
Source: Robert Wood, owner of Robert Wood & Associates
Writer: Jon Zemke
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