Businesses
Westside Commerical Association Members as
of February 2011
(Click here for these in a map version as of July 2010)   

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These businesses are directly supporting revitalization on
Lansing’s Westside through membership in the
Westside
Commercial Association.

Alex Hernandez

Baryames Tuxedo, 3023 W. Saginaw, 517-321-2354

2Bit Inc

Lisa Benck Designs

BIGGBY Coffee, 2002 West Saginaw; 484-1979‎

Deann Brown

Capital City Wireless, 1026 W. Saginaw, 267-9500

Consumer’s Energy, 530 W. Willow, 373-6100

Chiaravalli & Maxson, DDS, PLLC, 517-485-5738 or 517-485-
5629

Cozy Koi Bed and Breakfast, 720 Seymour, 881-5938

Dicker'n Deal Cash Centre; 1917 West Saginaw; 346-7676

Domino’s Pizza, 820 W. Saginaw, 372-3030

El Azteco Restaurant, 1016 W. Saginaw, 485-4589

Famous Taco, 1909 W. Saginaw, 517-321-TACO

Colleen Fahrenbach, DDS, 1500 W. Saginaw, 485-8615

James Figenshau, DDS, 1500 W. Saginaw, 485-5738

Full Circle Garden, 517-648-2096

Good Deals, 1406 W. Saginaw, 517-482-2897

Greater Lansing Housing Coalition, 1017 West Lapeer,
 517-372-5980

Hay and O’Rourke, PC, 221 W. Saginaw, 372-2900

Irish Pub and Grill, 1910 W. Saginaw, 482-3916

J&J Appliance and Furniture , 1901 W Saginaw St, 485-9300

Brian Kaser, PLC, 721 North Capitol, 517-374-9008

M3: Motion Marketing Media; Seymour Ave; 517-203-3333

Marathon Gas Station, 601 W. Saginaw, 371-1198

Dr. Gregory Maxson, DDS, PC;  1500 W. Saginaw, 485-5629

Heta K. Meta

Metlife Resources

Michigan Catholic Credit Union, 2001 W. Saginaw, 484-1937

Mike and Julie Morgan, Economic Restructuring Committee

North Westminster Church, 743 North MLK, 517-484-8433

The Rathbun Agency, 529 W. Saginaw, 482-1316

Libby Rice

Safe Ride Taxi, 517-894-1358

Sawyer’s Gourmet Pancake House, 608 W. Saginaw

Shanora’s Wigs & General Merchandise, 829 W. Saginaw
Street, 517-485-5377

Kevin Schwemmin, MSU Center for Service Learning and

Civic Engagement

Scribbles and Giggles Child Care, 609 N. Verlinden,
 482-1551

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Michigan

Chapter, Inc., 815 North Washington, 485-8769

Sparrow Hospital – St. Lawrence Campus, 1210 W. Saginaw
Street, 364-6800

Brad Williams, Organization Committee Chair

Jessica Yorko








Irish Pub












El Azteco








Rathbun Insurance
Domino's Pizza at 820 West Saginaw Offers $5 Lunch Menu

$5 lunch menu is available until 2:00 p.m. each day. Call 372-3030 to order.
Domino's Pizza reinvented itself earlier this year with a new pizza recipe. They have also created
an exciting $5 lunch menu that includes items such as at 2-topping small pizza, penne pasta and
a variety of oven bakedsandwiches- Philly cheese steak, chicken bacon ranch,
Mediterraneanveggie and more. The $5 lunch menu is available each day until 2:00 p.m. To
order, call 372-3030. To stay up to date on specials, join Domino's Pizza of Lansing on facebook.
Our local Domino's store owners and employees work hard to provide delicious food for pick up
or delivery. They are also involved in a number of community and school organizations including
the Westside Commercial Association and Sexton High School. Domino's is an international
company with over 9,000 franchices which started at a single location in Ypsilanti in 1960.
Corporate headquarters are still in Ann Arbor,Michigan.

2Bit Inc - Rod and Danielle's

2Bit Inc is a home-based business in Lansing's
Westside Neighborhood. It was started in January
2003 by Rodney Lambert for the purpose of creating
self-contained data acquisition systems. Rodney's
first invention was anintelligent sensor that includes
a complete processing unit and memory for use in
a variety of applications--- from vibration in process
control for in manufacturing to geologic functions in
environmental studies. For the past three years, the
company has been working to obtain a patent for
this unique invention. The patent process has turned
out to be an expensive and laborious process
due to many changes in the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office. Rodney's wife, Danielle Casavant
says because the process of creating, owning and
defendingintellectual property has gone from black
and white to gray, "It's really good time to be a patent attorney."

While working his way through the patent process for the intelligent sensor, Rodney also began
writing code for a Grand Rapids firm that makes vision systems for robotics. As the firm was
developing their vision systems, they were having a difficult time finding lighting that would work
with their design. Rodney was able to configure a lighting system that would work, and this solid
state lighting was the first official product of 2Bit Inc. Rodney began building the lighting in his
home. He contracts withmachine shops for the boards and does the machining in house. Some
of the lights have more than 3,000 components. Rodney says it is an extremely laborious
process, but he feels that businesses like his are one way to keep parts manufacturing "here
instead of in another country."

A few years ago, Rodney could see the economic downturn coming and thought he might not be
selling as many lighting systems as he had been, and the intelligent sensor was still in the
patent process. He began contracting with a software development company in Ann Arbor as a
way of riding out the storm. He has been commuting to Ann Arbor four days a week for the past
two years, all the while still pursuing a patent for the intelligent sensor and continuing to build
lighting systems. Now, as he wrapping up his contract work in Ann Arbor, Rodney is looking at
mobile app development which has low start up costs and highdemand, and seems to work well
for small businesses like his. While he is discouraged by the difficulty he has had in creating
patentedintellectual property, and concerned about what it means for the ability of creative
entrepreneurs to build high-tech companies, he is stilldedicated to running his own business
and using his creativity,ingenuity and tech savvy to advance technology.

Rodney and Danielle are 14-year residents of the Westside Neighborhood. Danielle is very active
in the community, editing the Westside Neighborhood Newsletter (the Westsider) and serving on
the WCA Business Development Committee. They love their house and the neighborhood
because of the strong community feel, the diversity, the unique quality of each home in the
neighborhood, and the beautiful trees.

Brian Kaser, Attorney at Law

Brian Kaser, PLC, started his private practice at 721 North Capitol in June
2007. His office is located in the same building as Wiener and Associates,
near the corner of Saginaw and Capitol and across from Durant Park.
Kaser offers corporate and regulatory legal support to health care
providers, elder service  organizations and non-profits throughout the state. He has practiced law
for thirty years. Before opening his own firm, Kaser spent many happy and successful years
practicing with Foster Swift in Lansing. He enjoyed his years with     Foster Swift and is now
experiencing the satisfaction and adventure of “rowing his own boat” in private practice.

In addition to practicing law and managing his business, Kaser is also the President if the Board
of Directors of Carefree Dental. He has recruited several new faces to the Carefree Dental board
to provide skills and connections to ensure sustainability of the work of Dr. Barry Saltman –
Carefree’s founder. He has also created several committees to strengthen the organization’s
structure and capacity. Carefree Dental provides more than 12,000 dental visits per year at three
locations. Dentists across Mid-Michigan donate their time to Carefree. Mr. Kaser invites all
Westside business, residents and others to take a tour of Carefree Dental and consider making
a charitable contribution to the organization. Contact Brian Kaser at 374-9008 or
briankaser@kaserlaw.com. Learn more about Kaser Law at www.kaserlaw.com and more about
Carefree Dental at
www.carefreemedical.com/dental.htm.

WCA Member Spotlight: North Westminster Presbyterian Church


















Westminster Presbyterian Church at 743 North MLK recently merged with its sister church in
North Lansing to form North Westminster Presbyterian Church. The church is under new
leadership by Reverend Timothy Chon, who wishes to make the church and its buildings and
grounds into more of a community center for area youth and other residents. Sunday morning
services are offered at 10:00 a.m. and special services include Christmas Eve Candlelight
Service, Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday. Holy Communion, is celebrated the first Sunday of
every month and at other designated times throughout the year. Special events at the church
include an annual Halloween celebration—this year on Sunday,    October 31 from 3pm-4pm –
which includes pumpkin carving, face painting, and costume prizes. To learn more about North
Westminster, visit
www.northwestminster.org, call 484-8433 or email westminster1@juno.com

Westside Businesses Are Growing!  

    In 2007 and 2008, the
    Westside Business survey
    asked about the change in
    number of employees over the
    past year. Responses show
    that businesses on Lansing’s
    Westside are growing!  From
    2006-2007, Westside
    businesses surveyed reported
    a net gain of 24 jobs, and from
    2007-2008, a net gain of 31
    jobs. A total of 55 positions
    have been added by Westside
    businesses over the past two
    years. Most businesses who
    responded to the survey
    employ fewer than 20
employees total, but many of these have grown in recent years, some more than doubling their
staff levels. In the 2008 survey, 47% of respondents said they plan to add new positions in the
coming year, up from 31% in 2007.

Furthermore, 71% said that the Westside Alliance program had directly helped their business,
and 100% said they want to see the program continue. The full survey report is available by
contacting P
eggy at peggy@nwlansing.org or 214-5684.  

Welcome New Westside Businesses!         

Collins Builders
Collins Builders will have a grand opening at
1712 West Saginaw (Saginaw and Cawood)
next month. This property was also vacant
and blighted for several years before Chris
Collins purchased the property last month. He
has completed beautiful exterior and interior
renovations. His business offers windows,
siding, doors, and roofing, and is a supplier
of Universal Windows Direct.

If you are undertaking any kind of home renovation project, be sure to give Chris a call at 517-202-
0184, email him at
collins-builders@hotmail.com, or stop by 1712 W. Saginaw.    Welcome Chris!

Telltale Photography
Telltale Photography is run by Melissa Keeley, who also serves on the WCA Promotions
Committee. Capital Gains Online Media recently wrote about the business:

In August 2008, she moved to Lansing, decided to create her own job and launched her own
photography business, Telltale Photography, in January 2009. Keeley works from her Westside
Lansing home, but travels throughout the region to shoot weddings and portraits. "I'm lucky in
that I'm in an industry that's going to exist regardless of the economy," she says. "Everyone's
always going to want wedding photographs and it kind of fits a niche market for people who really
value a storytelling element in photography."
Check out Telltale's amazing photo blog at
www.telltalephotography.com or contact
melissa@telltalephotography.com

Jimmy's Smoke Shop
Jimmy's Smoke Shop opened at 1830 W.
Saginaw in December. This property was also
vacant for several years and is now a retail
location offering t-shirts, sweatshirts, snacks,
and as the owner, Rockie says, other "big city
urban items". Stop by and check it out, at
Saginaw and Verlinden, across from Irish Pub.

Skyline Coney Island Comes to 2010 West Saginaw Street
Featuring Coney Dogs and a full "Greek Diner" style menu!

Lansing's Westside welcomes Skyline Coney Island Restaurant to 2010 West Saginaw Street,
which is at "the point" of Saginaw and Oakland, next door to BIGGBY Coffee, across from the
Michigan Catholic Credit Union and west of the Irish Pub & Grill. Skyline is open for breakfast,
lunch and dinner, and also provides catering. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. until
9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Menu items include appetizers, burgers,
sandwiches, melts, salads, soups, stir-fry, Coney dogs, gyros, skillets, omelets, pancakes,
Greek specialties such as Saganacki (flaming cheese), and dinner items such as fish & chips,
pork chops, shrimp, and kabobs. Prices range from $1-$1.80 for sides, $3-$5 for starters, and
$4-$7 for sandwiches and burgers, and $8-$9 for dinner entrees. Skyline opened in late-July, just
days before owner Julian Baci also welcomed a new baby! This is Julian's second location in
Michigan, and he has found that his menu items, excellent food quality, welcoming atmosphere
and friendly, reliable service are a winning combination. Prior to opening, the building interior
was renovated to nearly double the seating capacity. Fresh paint and decor, along with new
booths and counter-seating, create a pleasant and inviting dining experience. Stop by Skyline
Coney Island at 2010 West Saginaw, or call Skyline at 517-484-8086 to learn more.

Welcome new WCA Member: Sickle Cell Disease Association of America,
Lansing Chapter

The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) has been raising awareness and
helping those with Sickle Cell Disease and their families to better understand the disease for
over 35 years.  Once a child, refugee or new resident is diagnosed with the disease Linda Carter,
the Lansing Sickle Cell social worker will provide genetic counseling, financial assistance and
disease education. Sickle Cell Disease is not contagious, but is inherited by the parents which is
why Carter believes that disease education is the first step to eliminating Sickle Cell Disease.  
Carter suggests that before having a child, parents should be tested for the Sickle Cell trait in
order to know the chances of their child having Sickle Cell Disease.  After the Sickle Cell test,
parents can make an informed decision before having a child.  There are several events and
fundraisers going on to inform those suffering from the disease and help raise awareness.
Some of these events are:

  • Summer Camp in Jackson for 3rd-10th graders, held by the SCDAA in July which takes
    time away from their disease and the hospital. The summer camp also allows children
    the opportunity to spend time with others who share the same disease. Also in July the
    SCDAA looks forward to participating in the Westside Summer Fest at the health fair.
  • Another way that the SCDAA is helping Sickle Cell Disease is through Bumper Stickers,
    which costs $3 and T-Shirts which cost $12. If you would like to purchase any of the
    products listed above or would like more information about Sickle Cell Disease, please
    contact Linda Carter at 517-485-8769.

El Azteco Now Offers Text Messaging for Weekday Specials

El Azteco is now offering a free text messaging service that announces the weekday enchilada
specials. El Azteco has been serving the Lansing area for over 30 years with great service and
great food. Now El Azteco can help their busy customers with a simple text message which
allows customers to know when their favorite meal is on special.  The text message services
costs the same as a standard text and there are no hidden charges.  To apply for the service
simply:
    1.        Create a new text message
    2.        Type ElAzteco in the Body
    3.        Send it to 41411

Speed Up with the Biggby Coffee Construction Specials While Waiting in
Traffic

The Biggby Coffee at the Point, located on 2002 W. Saginaw is now offering daily specials to
ease the frustration caused by the current construction. Each day Biggby provides a catch phrase
and a special to help their customers get through the construction:

  • Monday: B determined. Tenacity is required – get in and get wired… with a free shot of
    espresso or boosta.
  • Tuesday: B supportive. No pain (construction); no gain (clean water) – Why even
    complain?... Muffins and scones for $1.00, with the purchase of any beverage.
  • Wednesday: B patient. Plan a little extra time – you’re the next in line… Free tall to grande
    upgrade for waiting.
  • Thursday: B happy. Baristas are ready to serve their customers – with a smile to see you
    through (cones)… $1.00 off any grande big chill or iced beverage.
  • Friday: B green. This construction is saving the Grand River – the environment we will
    deliver…use a use a Biggby Coffee mug and get 25% off any beverage of  your choice.
  • Saturday: B detoured. Slow down and wave to the road crew – say ‘thank you’ to the road
    crew.
  • Sunday: B loyal. Construction, no sweat – Do you have a construction frequency card yet?
    Come and roll the dice!

New Items at Shanora’s

Shanora’s at 829 W. Saginaw (corner of Saginaw &
Butler) is now selling suits, men’s dress socks, and
fine ladies’ apparel. Beautiful items for church,
weddings, graduations, and other formal events.  
Shanora’s also has great deals this month on Extra
Large (60”) polyester nylon umbrellas with wooden
handles: $9.95 each or $14.95 for two.
More info: 485-5377.
NorthWest Initiative - 530 W. Ionia St., Suite D, Lansing, MI  48933 - Phone: 517-999-2894 - Fax: 517-999-2897
Westside Commercial Association Mission:
To create enjoyable and prosperous business and residential areas on Lansing’s Westside.
Last year Rod and Danielle needed to re-roof their
1925 cottage style house. It has rolled-over gables
and rounded eaves to simulate thatch. Originally it
had a thin layer of green stained cedar shingles
which were covered over by asphalt about 20 years
ago. Rod cut, boiled, bent, and stained northern
white cedar shingles by hand and did a staggered
reveal, creating a authentic, hand-made thatched
roof.