One of downtown St. Joseph’s most significant and long-running empty business spaces is on the way to being filled with new enterprises.
An upscale women’s boutique with four existing stores in West Michigan will open in the former Pumphouse Grille/Vivi’s location at 214 State Street.
‘Lee & Birch’ boutiques have been in business about 15 years and have locations in downtown Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Rockford & Kalamazoo. Learn more about their stores at www.leeandbirch.com
Lee and Birch owners revealed their plans in a personal Facebook post:
“We are SO excited to announce we’re opening a store in Downtown St Joseph!!!
St Joe has been on my radar for quite some time… I absolutely love how close the downtown is to the beach, it’s close to GR and Chicago, and I grew up going to my grandpas cottage there so I have very fond memories of the area.
We can’t wait to welcome you into our new Store this summer and for us to become a part of such an awesome community!”
Lee & Birch, Grand Haven
According to their website, Lee & Birch began in 2007 and has been growing consistently since:
“At Lee & Birch, we believe in offering a personalized shopping experience to each and every customer that walks into our stores and visits us online. We want every woman who shops with us to leave feeling better and more confidant than they were when they walked in. We do this by continuing to offer high quality clothing and accessories in both classics that will be a staple in your closet and modern styles that hit the most up-to-date trends.
Founded in 2007, Lee & Birch now has 4 locations in West Michigan and we continue to travel the nation to bring you the best clothing and accessories. We take pride in feeling every single piece before ordering it for our stores and you will feel for yourself when you visit us.”
It appears Lee & Birch will occupy about half the space in the Pumphouse building and welcome another store to the space next door. They teased an upcoming announcement of that new retailer in one of their social media posts, but no name was given. It’s unclear whether Lee & Birch has purchased or leased the building, owned for decades by real estate investor John Bertuca. However, it appears they will control the entire building, based on their discussion of a seasonal rental upstairs:
“We will have a 2 bedroom 1 bath vacation rental with full availability for the summer ready by the end of May. It is right in the heart of downtown, walking distance to Silver Beach and will be just as cute as you expect from an L&B”.
The former Pumphouse Grille and H.I.’s Saloon location has been a significant factor in downtown St. Joseph’s restaurant and bar scene for 50+ years. However, the space sat vacant since before the COVID shutdown three years ago. It had been occupied for a couple of years by an Italian eatery called ‘Vivi’s’ until late 2019.
The two buildings were tied together in the 90’s in a major reconstruction and expansion of the highly successful H.I.’s Saloon. However, it closed a few years later amid the owner’s personal legal issues. It then was renamed “Pumphouse” by Tom Jennings (Czars505), harkening back to a bar that had been there in the 60s and 70s and again operated successfully for several years. It then became “Food District” and “Vivi’s”under Jim Kramer, current owner of Schu’s Grille and Bar. and Tim’s Too.
Another ownership group planned to open a new restaurant in the space in early 2020. They put up signs and launched a website, but never opened amid the COVID shutdown. The location has been idle ever since.
Now, it will be reborn as home to two retail stores,led by Lee & Birch, potentially as early as June, 2023.
