10/15/26 West Fulton Business Association Meeting

West Fulton Business Association Meeting

10/15/26 – 12:00pm – Putt Putts

Tom called to order 12:08

Introductions

Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting (April 16, 2026)

  • Tom read a summary of minutes (sent out prior to the meeting)

  • Motion to approve minutes (Lisa).  Seconded. Motion passed without opposition.

Treasury Report - Tom

  • Recent Donations / Expenditures

    • $200 for 616 mixer

    • Freezer to JBAN

    • Gilda’s Club Walk

  • $11,034.56 is current cash balance

  • Submitted grant to City of GR (CIA) in place of dues

    • Maximum grant amount increased from $5,000 to $10,000

  • Looking for ideas on how to spend funds 

  • Idea to get trees planted

    • Rich App from Friends of GR parks suggested this could be done at no cost

Police Update – Leon White

  • Leon wasn’t able to attend (no other GRPD representative present)

  • Eliza from SWAN (fka JBAN) reported that there is another community officer

    • John S. noted that crime has been trending down on the Westside

  • Brent from Construction Simplified reported a 2 hour response time for a B&E caught on 24/7-monitored cameras

  • Lisa from GVSU mentioned there’s a people staying outside daily at DASH 9 lot

Westside Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) Update – Chris Cranson

  • Renderings of the archway signs were distributed.  Spring is estimated to begin installation

  • Initiative to improve focused / consistent marketing to promote Westside businesses. Committees are being formalized into a “Design Committee” and “Marketing Committee”

    • Anyone interested in getting involved with work should contact Chris

  • Reminder that the CIA funded trash cans, archway signs, in addition to funding business association fees

1000 W Fulton – Convenience Store Discussion

  • Sean from West Valley Market presented: This isn’t a beer and wine store.  90% of store will be non-alcoholic grocery, focusing on world foods. No Liquor. We just lost a grocery store on Fulton and it isn’t coming back. We’re more in the direction of Bridge St Market, but for Fulton.  Clean environment.  Target market isn’t customers looking for a tall single beers – rather, buying groceries and picking up a six pack on the side.  Exploring vegan section.  

  • Tom noted that the same location (previously a grocery store), also sold beer.

  • Question – will this be different than your Cherry Hill Store?

    • Yes, that building is very small and all cut up into different areas.  This will be different and focused on grocery

  • Question – why do you need to go to the city?

    • Midnight closing is the main reason

  • Question – don’t you need a license to sell alcohol?

    • Discussion around how a license to sell alcohol is attached to the building.  West Valley Market already has a state license.  The West Valley reps shared that the City has told them that as long as the same plans/procedures are utilized, they don’t need to take any additional action for the license. To stay open until midnight (vs. previous store closing at 10pm) they need Special Land Use (SLU) approval from the City.

    • Brent suggested that as long as they get SLU from the city specifying the shelf space for alcohol and other conditions, they will be held to it by that process.

  • Question – what is your ask?

    • We are asking for your support – adding to JBAN/SWAN (clarification from Eliza/John – SWAN provided a “Letter of Engagement”).

    • Reiteration from West Valley they are not competing with liquor stores, this is a different market than a convenience/party store

    • Discussion regarding the differences between the rendering/elevation picture and floor plan/layout on the handouts provided 

      • Reminder that city planning and city ordinances will sort these details out and hold accountable – we need to just be clear what we are supporting specifically. 

  • Call for motion to provide a support letter.  In response, another motion was put forward to supply a neutral position letter.  It was pointed out that WFBA has already submitted a neutral letter.  Motion not seconded. 

  • Question – how do we address the 600 petition signatures opposed

    • West Valley Reps - that petition described us as a convenience store, so those signatures were opposed to something that we are not proposing to operate

  • Point offered that this business can open without the support of WFBA, the SLU is specifically to stay open for 2 additional hours (vs prior owner), to 12pm. 

  • Motion to support the project without the additional hours (i.e. closing at 10pm) and adhering to all conditions required by planning commission and city ordinances was offered (Brent) and seconded (Lisa?). Motion passed without opposition. 

    • Brent will draft the letter and submit to the city on behalf of WFBA

The Other Way Christmas Store and Thanksgiving Market

  • Opportunities for businesses to support The Other Way Christmas Store and Thanksgiving Market were presented. 

  • Christmas Store – Seeking new, donated gifts for the store. Any business is welcome to reach out if they want to have a large gift-wrapped box in their stores to collect. Flyers have QR codes to request a box, or support the store financially (to help as inventory changes during the store).

  • Motion (Tom) to donate $1,000 in WFBA funds to the Christmas Stores.  Seconded (Lisa).  Motion approved without opposition.

Open Floor

  • Suggestion from Charlie(?) Fischer that W Fulton used to host family friendly events

  • Discussion around Twisters – the ice cream shop that exploded

  • JBAN / SWAN offering a Trunk or Treat event on Thursday October 29 at Lincoln Park

    • Motion to donate $200 to purchase candy for the SWAN/JBAN truck or tried was offered and seconded.  Motion passed without opposition.

      • Sean from West Valley offered to match!

Meeting Adjourned 1:10pm(ish)


Respectfully Submitted: Scott Bloem (WFBA Board Member)

Jessica Gutowski-Slaydon