Local Businesses

Should there be marijuana provisioning centers in downtown East Lansing? Should they have to be 500 feet apart? The Planning Commission recently talked about these issues and more. Ann Nichols reports.

A reader asked why the Georgio’s Pizza at 1010 East Grand River Avenue (just east of Bogue Street) is closed up with a fence around it. ELi brings the answer.

ELi is pleased to announce that Crunchy’s, one of East Lansing’s favorite hangouts, has generously agreed to become a corporate sponsor of ELi’s weekly newsletter.

Starting February 7, east arbor architects + gallery will display the paintings of MSU Professor Jon Burley, inspired by decades of European travel with students. Sarah Spohn has the story.

Did Bell's Pizza receive a notice of violation on its shed because the business played host to the "Vote No" campaign on the income tax? ELi used the Freedom of Information Act to see what we could find. Kepler Domurat-Sousa reports.

Based on the number of issues and questions arising during last night's public hearing, City Council decided to defer action on Ordinance 1416, which regulates the location of medical marijuana provisioning centers, until their January 9th meeting. ELi's Jessy Gregg reports.

If you've left some holiday shopping until the last minute because you're stumped about what to buy the "specialist" in your life? From growlers to Great Expectations, comic books to cigars, ELi's Jessy Gregg found a gift for everybody on your list, in downtown East Lansing.

East Lansing Planning staff say that the Center City District bonds have now closed, which means construction is officially starting on the project. What should we expect in the coming months? 

As the State of Michigan begins accepting licenses for medical marijuana businesses, East Lansing's DDA has voted unanimously to ask City Council to defer action on provisioning centers when it takes up the issue next week. Alice Dreger reports. 

Want to express your gratitude to those who open their homes to you this holiday season with a thoughtful gift from a local merchant? From socks to vodka, Jessy Gregg tells you what she found in downtown EL (and where you can park.)

ELi has learned that City Council is going to revisit the question of financial guarantees to the City for the $132 million Center City District project. Meanwhile, Lotsa Pizza is closing, saying it is due to lack of parking caused by the project's construction.

With the election one week away, Council candidate Susan Woods and the realtors' PAC have now been warned they are in violation of Michigan’s Campaign Finance Act, while the "no income tax" campaign is misleadingly using ELi's reporting.

ELi looks at the first round of campaign finance disclosures. Two of three Council candidates filed as required, the Realtors' PAC apparently did not, and we can now show you who is funding the Yes and No income tax campaigns.

What’s up with the Center City District project, set to transform a large chunk of East Lansing’s downtown? Why is Parking Lot #1 now open and why are there various trucks there? And what is the project looking like economically for City taxpayers?

What’s going on with the Center City District project? Confusing signals are coming out of City Hall, and at least one long-time downtown business owner is seriously frustrated with all the uncertainty.