A sparking ember of success has burned its way into downtown Lake Orion despite the frigid economic climate, thanks, in part, to local shoppers.
LO’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) formally welcomed two businesses at the southern end of town with a ribbon cutting and re-welcomed another that opened its doors on a new location.
At the same time, the DDA is pushing its ?3/50? project.
Lake Orion joined the nationwide effort which asks residents to think about three independently owned stores ‘you’d miss most if they were gone,? then spend $50 each month among them.
The 3/50 campaign encourages shopping in local downtowns and save ‘the bricks and mortars our nation was built on,? according to its website.
‘We’ve received a lot of calls in support of the project,? said DDA Director Lois Golden. ‘People understand the positive impact it will have on the community.?
If half the employed US population spent $50, their purchases would generate $42,629,700,000 in revenue, according to the 3/50 flyer.
Locally, Golden said for every dollar the DDA invests in downtown, they see a $25 return.
The three Lake Orion stores ? Twice Blessed, W.R. Mason Jewelers and Chic Antiques ? hope to enjoy some of those profits as much as they enjoy downtown and its shoppers.
‘We feel like we’re a part of something, part of a community,? said Bill Mason of W.R. Mason.
He and his brother, Bob, brought their custom jewelry shop to Lake Orion after starting in Dearborn, followed by a short stint on Baldwin Road.
‘Dearborn didn’t have quite the right demographics,? Bob said, adding that Lake Orion’s provided more success for their business. ‘There’s a desire for unusual, hand-crafted jewelry here and ‘artier? shoppers,? he said.
Twice Blessed, a consignment shop and boutique, opened its doors next to Children’s Park. The store features everything from furniture to kids? clothes to designer handbags.
Chic Antiques fits snugly between the two shops and features four-times the space as its old location, according to owner Karol Farrington.