3598 Charlevoix Dr. SE. Grand Rapids, MI 49546

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jeff@42northrealty.com

(616) 366-5240

6790 Filmore St Allendale MI, 49401

Check Out This Turn Key Investment Opportunity! Find Out More By Contact Me at Jeff@jeffnorthousegroup.com

Top Ten Reasons to Buy Locally Owned and Unique Local Businesses to Visit.

Top Ten Reasons to Think Local- Buy Local- Be Local 

  Original Article by SustainableConnections.com

1. Buy Local- Support Yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from independent, locally owned business, rather than nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community. 

2. Support Community Groups: Non- profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners that they do from large businesses. 

3. Keep Our Community Unique: Where we shop, where we eat, where we have fun, all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit. " When people go on vacation the generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace." Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust. 

4. Reduce Environmental Impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution. 

5. Create More Jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally, in our community and provide the most jobs to residents. 

6. Get Better Service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers. 

7. Invest in The Community: Local business are owned by the people that live in this community, are less likely to leave and are more invested in the community's future. 

8. Put Your Taxes to Good Use: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community. 

9. Buy What You Want, Not What Someone Else Wants You To Buy:  A market place of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses , each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices. 

10. Encourage Local Prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in a increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle the communities that preserve their one-of-a kind business distinctive character. 

Unique Local Business In West Michigan

Sweetie- Licious Bakery Cafe

Visit her website: www.sweetie-licious.com

I love pie. I LOVE HER BAKERY! It's like taking a step back in time when you walk in and THE FOOD IS AMAZING! I was given a recipe book of her pies as a gift and I make them all the time but they don't quite have that magic touch she seems to have with her food. I highly recommend, when you are in the mood some pie, driving here and having some of her award winning recipes. I recommend the Blueberry Basil Cream Pie! My family loves it! - Corey Nice, Relationship Manager for Jeff Northouse Group. 

American Spoon Foods

Like most good things, American Spoon began with dreams. For Justin Rashid, it was the dream of a livelihood harvesting the bounty of the farms and woodlands of Northern Michigan. For Chef Larry Forgione, it was the dream of gather the harvests and traditions of America's diverse region into a distinctively American cuisine. Their first preserves, made from Early Glow strawberries, we soft succulent and filled with halved berries. There were described as " Spoon Preserves" because they were more suited to spooning than spreading with a knife. The because permanent and so did the concept of putting as much fruit and honest flavor into every recipe, a concept that has inspired a continually expanding line of delicious products. - Saugatuck.com

308 Butler St. 

Saugatuck,49453

www.spoon.com

Acorn Studios 

Acorn Studios is a blank canvas space intentionally designed for people to gather, learn and make. Acorn Studios offers farmer's market cooking classes, cocktail making fun, and many other fun events. 

919 E. Fulton

Grand Rapids, MI. 49503

www.acornstudios.net

Marie Catrib's 

Marie Catrib's is one of my favorite restaurants. Marie moved from Lebanon to Flint in 1970, and later moved to the U.P. where she starting baking baklava at home and selling it at local markets. Within a year she opened her first restaurant, Marie's Deli, in Houghton MI. 

Unfortunately, Marie passed away last year at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer. The restaurant is still making wonderful meals. 

1001 Lake Dr. SE

Grand Rapids, MI. 

www.mariecatribs.com

Marie Catrib

Blandford Nature Center

Blandford Nature Center was once known as Collins Woods. It was part of the Collin's family farm. Victor Blandford purchased the farm from the Collin's family and began selling of pieces of the property. 

The founder of Blandford Nature Center is Dr. Mary Jane Dockeray.She worked for the Grand Rapids Public Museum in 1949 as a nature lecturer. Mary Jane convinced to the Blandford family to donate 17 acres of the property for the development of a nature center. 

The Blandford Nature Center is a great place to spend the day outside with your family. They have beautiful hiking trails, rescued animals and farm animals that you can visit. The also have an old school house, a homestead barn, sugar house for maple syrup, and an old blacksmith's shop for you to explore. 

1715 Hillburn Ave Nw 

Grand Rapids, MI. 49504

blandfordnaturecenter.org

"It is hoped that an awareness and enthusiasm for nature will further stimulate concern for the total environment and will be an asset for the world and its future"

Mary Jane Dockeray

High Rated Interior Designers in West Michigan

Lindsay Hoekstra, Custom Interiors LLC

www.LindsayHoekstra.com

Lindsay has over 15 years of experience in interior design and fine art. She has served clients across the country from L.A., Chicago and New York City. Lindsay can create spaces on any budget. Her work has also been featured on EasyClosets commercials on DIY Network. 

Past Client Review: 

Lindsay has the unique ability to determine the personal style of her clients and redefine a space according to their tastes - from ultra modern to French provincial to rustic cottage. She can also accomplish a redesign on nearly any budget! I have lived in my home for over 10 years, but never loved it until Lindsay helped me with everything from furniture, to paint colors, to wall decor to pillows. She is simply amazing! She was even able to use many items I already had and make them look new simply by moving them or combining them with other pieces. I have recommended her repeatedly and receive many compliments on what she has done in my home.

Mindi Freng Designs 

www.mindifrengdesigns.com

Mindi has a Bachelor of Arts, with and English Degree from Hope college. Mindi also worked at Moynihan Gallery in Holland, MI. as an Art Consultant, In-Home Designer, and a custom framing designer. 

Customer Review: Mindi is fantastic! More than one neighbor has commented on how my house looks like it was in a magazine. The first project was the main floor living area including the kitchen and the master bedroom. She is so creative and finds the perfect detail to take a space from great to fabulous! Her holiday class was fantastic and inspiring. She has so many ideas and solid design knowledge. I revamped my holiday decorating for next to nothing and it looks so much better. I can't wait for her other classes this coming year.

Jennifer Butler Interior Design

www.jenniferbutlerinteriordesign.com

Jennifer has over 20 years of experience and worked with many of Grand Rapid's leading architects. She has a distinguished portfolio that includes smaller-scale remodels and multi-million dollar custom homes. She also has day spas, athletic facilities, churches and offices in her portfolio.

Customer review: Jennifer has been instrumental in the design of my new home. She keeps an eye on the overall costs while making sure that the building plans conforms to her clients' tastes. She is warm and personable, communicating her ideas in a thoughtful way. She works well as part of a team and represents and advocates for the wishes of her clients. She is careful to hear her clients preferences and is able to design a wide range of styles, from the more contemporary to the early farmhouse style. Jennifer is a great asset to any building project. I have been thrilled to have her as a member of the team that is designing my next home.

Jeffery Roberts

www.jefferyroberts.com

Jeffery Roberts has training in fine arts along with a degree in architecture, fashion and interior design. Jeffery is based out of Chicago but has an office in Grand Rapids. 

Jeffery finds inspiration in dynamic architecture, the arts and Lake Michigan. A personal reason that he is one of my favorites is, he love to up-cycle, making things from the past into beautiful, new works of art. 

Customer review: I have used Jeffery for several projects from a very large renovation to a smaller spruce-up project recently. Jefffery is very creative and talented and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a unique design.

Outrageous Celebrity Homes

Will Smith's 20 million dollar home has it's own zip code!

John Travolta's 4 million dollar home in Florida has it's own personal jet runway with private jet!

Oprah Winfrey's 84 million dollar home boasts it's own lake. 

Richard Branson's private tropical island

Bill Gates' 120 million dollar home has a system wear guest where smart pins so they lighting, music and climate is set to there personal preferences.

Original posted by financesonline.com

Check out this listing! 6676 Crystal Downes

Schedule a showing of this beautiful home by contacting me at Jeff@jeffnorthousegroup.com