Coming to the D: Starbucks, Potbelly, CMU, and More

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The revival of downtown Detroit continues with a Starbucks, a Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and a learning center by Central Michigan University coming to One Kennedy Square, a midrise office tower that overlooks Campus Martius Park.

The retail space in One Kennedy Square had been vacant since the 10-story structure opened in 2006. Major office tenants include Ernst & Young and Walbridge. The emerald green building was designed by Neumann/Smith Architects in Southfield (the firm recently added a second office location inside the Wright Kay Building at Woodward and John R).

Additionally, Mike Higgins, owner of the Broderick Tower, a 125-unit apartment tower at Woodward and Witherell, plans to open three restaurants by the end of the year — a wine bar called La Cave, a beer garden that has yet to be named, and a grill. La Cave and the beer garden will be in the lower level, while the grill will open on the first floor and a mezzanine.

Higgins also plans to add a bar and restaurant inside the Elliott Building, a six-story structure built in 1894. The building’s most well known tenant was the first S.S. Kresge five and dime store, which opened in 1899. The company went on to become one of the largest retailers in the world, and it launched the Kmart brand in 1962.

In addition to a bar and restaurant on the first floor and the lower level of the Elliott Building, Higgins plans to renovate the upper floors into 16 loft-style apartments. Work is expected to start next year, with a 2015 opening. Following that, Higgins plans a major renovation of the Leland House at Cass and Bagley.

To the immediate north of the Elliott Building, Schostak Brothers & Co. plans to renovate the vacant Valpey Building — named after a shoe store that opened on the first floor when the building debuted in 1896 — into 42 loft apartments along with ground-floor retail. The building will be an addition to Schostak’s Lofts at Merchants Row complex of loft apartments, retail, and parking on the lower Woodward corridor.

In related news, Spielhaus Toys will open a temporary store, often called a pop-up store, Monday inside the offices of D:hive Detroit at 1249 Woodward. The venture joins other pop-up stores — City Loft and The Detroit Shoppe — operated along Woodward by the Somerset Collection in Troy.