Water Damage Restoration in Muskegon, MI

MUSKEGON, MI – A hair stylist with nearly two decades of experience has set up shop in the former Lumberman’s Bank.

Alchemy Salon by the Barber’s Daughter opened its doors Monday, Oct. 21, on the second floor of Lumberman’s Vault, part of Core Plaza at 221 W Webster Ave., Suite E, in Muskegon.

Hair is the family business for owner Erin “The Barber’s Daughter” France. Originally from Montague, where her dad runs a barber shop with her brother and nephew, France has 19 years of styling experience. She has worked in Aveda Salons for most of her career and attended the Aveda Business College.

France told MLive she started Alchemy Salon to refocus her career and train the next generation of stylists.

“I never really wanted to have a salon, it wasn’t really my dream,” she said. “But my plans have changed as I’ve gotten older. I love to educate new stylists … My kids are getting older, so I felt like this is a good time to do it.”

France also is the first stylist in Muskegon to carry new brands such as BOB (Back of Bottle) hair care and Color Space hair coloring products.

The salon currently has just two other stylists on staff, but France said she is conducting interviews and plans to hire more as business picks up within the next month.

Alchemy Salon is one of a handful of commercial tenants that will occupy the second-floor mezzanine overlooking Lumberman’s Vault. The first floor will be home to a food hall with soul food, Mexican and Thai options, and the Liquid Assets Cocktail & Wine Bar.

Troy Wasserman, partner with Core Realty Partners, the development team behind Core Plaza and Lumberman’s Vault, told MLive in an email that the project still has a good amount of inspections to complete, and he predicted everything would be up and running early to mid-November.

The name Lumberman’s Vault pays homage to the building’s history. Originally built in 1962 as National Lumberman’s Bank of Muskegon, the building was once regarded as the city’s premier bank and even housed the state’s first rooftop heliport in 1965.

The building had sat vacant for a decade prior to the Core Plaza redevelopment. The building’s third through sixth floors now are occupied by office tenants, including Core Realty Partners.

French said the journey from leasing to opening in Lumberman’s Vault has been “absolutely incredible.”

“The building is just incredible,” she said. “I think it‘s such a cool project. The second I walked in here and met with Troy … right away I was like ’I know I‘m doing this.’”

Alchemy Salon is offering 20% off any facial this week as part of the grand opening celebration. People can book an appointment at alchemysalonmuskegon.com or by calling 231-246-8136.

Regular hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Tuesday, when the salon is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. by appointment only, then 1-8 p.m. for regular business.

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MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI — A new business is already making waves along the lakeshore with its delectable homemade bread.

The Bread Shed, which opened in late September at 1495 Lakewood Road by Whitehall native Abigail Eldred, has been busy serving up Eldred’s savory and sweet recipes, some of which date back 20 years.

Eldred began working as a baker at the age of 14, while working at her mom’s bakery, Morning Glory Cafe. The Homestead Restaurant & Bakery now stands in its place, under different owners.

Fast forward two decades, and Eldred said she’s come full circle, transforming her home kitchen into a small business that offers fresh bread and cinnamon rolls to locals and visitors each week.

“It’s wild,” she told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. “We’ve been open just a few weeks, and people are already buying the bread as fast as I can get it out there.”

Eldred was at The Bread Shed at 9 a.m. sharp Friday and didn’t stop moving until around 2 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday, the bakery items made fresh daily sell out in a matter of hours, she said.

The shed is located right beside Eldred’s family home, so she operates her business under Michigan’s Cottage Food Law. Eldred said the quaint business is similar to a fruit stand on the side of the road, but The Bread Shed is prettier.

“I like the idea of keeping it small — that way, we can keep an eye on quality, and that’s really important to me,” she said. “I don’t want it to get so out of hand and have so many people’s hands in it that you lose that extra touch.”

The three-cheese garlic jalapeno bread and the honey blueberry bread are the top sellers on the menu and both keep customers coming back for more.

But if you want something a bit more sweet, and have an appetite, Edlred’s cinnamon rolls and sticky buns are the way to go. These are big treats, basically the size of a small child’s head, Eldred said.

Every two-pound loaf of bread is $8 a pop, while cinnamon rolls are $5 and sticky buns are $6. Customers should submit their pre-order request 24-48 hours beforehand.

Eldred’s long-term plans include donating leftovers to people in need.

“I just think good, homemade bread brings people together,” she said. “I feel so fortunate and blessed that the community has embraced us the way they have. And it teaches my children good ethics; they get to know the community, too, and the community gets to know them.

“We became a part of that, and that’s what it’s all about; togetherness and learning from each other and sharing with each other.”

Hours of operation at The Bread Shed are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

To place an order and learn more, visit The Bread Shed’s Instagram or Facebook account, or ring the business at (231) 894-0029.

Would you like MLive to consider featuring your favorite restaurant in Michigan’s Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Skyla Jewell-Hammie at sjewell-hammie@mlive.com.

Want more Muskegon area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Muskegon” daily newsletter.

Find beautiful bodies of water and endless recreation on the Muskegon Lakeshore.

When it comes to water recreation in the Muskegon Lakeshore region, the lakes (and rivers) are all great. Of course, just off Muskegon’s western shore sits the mighty Lake Michigan, the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume. But the area is filled with other beautiful bodies of water as well, making the entire area a premier boating destination.

“You’re never very far from water in Muskegon. You see it everywhere, even when you’re just driving around,” says Dan Bonner, outdoor adventure specialist at Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park and an avid outdoor enthusiast. “There are so many different options for people to sail, fish, kayak, paddleboard, swim and waterski.”

Let’s Cruise

One of the easiest ways to enjoy the water is to take a cruise. Muskegon is a popular stop for such cruise agencies as Pearl Seas (which specializes in Great Lakes and Canada cruises) and the French luxury cruise operator PONANT. In addition, the Lake Express ferry offers a ride that lasts two-and-a-half hours, from Muskegon to Milwaukee four times a day in May through October.

Locally operated Aquastar Cruises has been serving the Muskegon area since 1987, when the boat was known as the Port City Princess. The Aquastar has capacity for up to 150 passengers for both public and private cruises.

“For people who don’t own a boat, the Aquastar provides them with access to the water that they otherwise might not have,” says Patrick McKee, Aquastar Cruises president.

A typical two-hour cruise departs from the West Michigan Dock and Market on Muskegon Lake downtown, cuts across the lake and through the Muskegon Channel into Lake Michigan, then travels along the dune-covered coastline.

The Aquastar offers several themed trips, including a Parrot Head/Jimmy Buffett cruise, Polynesian and Mariachi cruises, a full moon cruise and the popular sunset cruise.

“There’s no better way to take in a Western Michigan sunset than from the deck of the Aquastar,” McKee says.

Float On

Yacht and boat clubs abound throughout Muskegon County in such communities as Montague, Norton Shores and Whitehall, where the White Lake Yacht Club has been welcoming members and guests since 1903.

“The No. 1 goal of most yacht clubs is to be a gathering place for people who enjoy being on the water,” says Kevin Moore, commodore of the Muskegon Yacht Club, which was formed in 1934. “For some people, that means just sitting in a rocking chair and looking at the lake and watching the boats go by.”

But for most yacht club members, the primary appeal is to get out onto the water. Moore says the Muskegon Yacht Club provides an extensive array of sailing programs, including youth training, adult sailing classes and weekly ride-along times. Muskegon Yacht Club also offers classes through local schools as well as the Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore.

“Muskegon has some of the best sailing locales in the United States and we want people to get out on them and enjoy the world of sailing.”

Kevin Moore

commodore of the Muskegon Yacht Club

But you don’t have to belong to a club or organization to take advantage of all the water around Muskegon. The only thing you need is something that floats, because water access points are plentiful. These include Black Lake Park, Pere Marquette Park, Dune Harbor Park and P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.

“It’s amazing how much public access we have to water in Muskegon County,” Bonner says. “On summer days, there are hundreds of boats parked along the Lake Michigan shoreline. You’ll see paddleboarders and kayakers on the lake.”

Even when it’s colder, Bonner says, people still take to the lakes for kitesurfing and kiteboarding. There also are a number of parks and access points on the region’s inland lakes, and a lot of those lakes connect to Lake Michigan.

“Water can be so refreshing,” Bonner says. “We drink water to refresh our bodies, but we get out on water to refresh our minds. And this is just a beautiful place to be able to get outside on the water and enjoy it.”

Explore More

Outdoor adventures are at your feet in the Muskegon Lakeshore

One of the most popular hiking pathways is the 11.5-mile Fred Meijer Berry Junction Trail, where hikers can go all the way from Muskegon to White Lake, Whitehall and Montague.

Popular spots for paved road biking include the 24-mile Hart-Montague Trail and the 26-mile Musketawa Trail. Great places for mountain bikers to enjoy rougher terrain include area state parks that all offer single-track courses.

Looking for a great place to camp? Check out Fisherman’s Landing & Campground on the east end of Muskegon Lake. Wolf Lake Resort and Campground in Muskegon also has a great array of sites.

Mona Lake is ideal for canoeing and kayaking, and White Lake gives paddlers heading to Muskegon State Park an excellent starting point. Much of the White Lake trip runs along a sand dune shoreline.

Sand dunes are abundant here, and a popular activity is climbing The Dune Climb Stairway at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, which features a 193-step hike to a viewing platform perched 190 feet above Lake Michigan.

You can often catch trout and salmon on the Muskegon River or go fishing for bass and walleye on any of the county’s dozens of inland lakes.

Get to Know the Muskegon Lakeshore

Thinking about moving to the Muskegon Lakeshore? Check out the latest edition of Livability Muskegon Lakeshore, Michigan.

New Muskegon resident shares why she moved to the region.

People who move to the Muskegon Lakeshore find themselves in the area for a variety of reasons – work, family, education or a combination of all three. But what keeps them here is the quality of life they enjoy in their new home.

Marla Schneider, president and CEO of Greater Muskegon Economic Development, moved to the area in pursuit of her current job.

In her role, Schneider oversees initiatives that support the community’s business growth. She also is responsible for cultivating partnerships with companies, elected officials, regional and state economic development partners, and other stakeholders to develop the vision and strategic plan for economic development in Muskegon County.

Muskegon Has Much to Offer

“Muskegon has a lot to offer as an ever-growing and changing community,” Schneider says. “I expect that many people will begin finding new opportunities as we increase the size and capabilities of businesses located here.”

The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native nurtured startup ventures in a business development role for nearly a decade before making her career shift. She says she wanted experience working directly with the private sector and small-business owners so her eventual return to economic development would help her better tune into the challenges that businesses face in phases of growth.

“Last year, I felt that it was time to return to economic development, where my true passions lie, and the Muskegon job seemed like a perfect fit,” she says. “Once I researched and visited Muskegon for the first time, I was very impressed with the momentum of the community and the willingness not only to change, but also to preserve the community’s brand personality and be authentic to the history and the residents who live here.”

Beachy Vibes

Besides the new role, Schneider also was attracted to the region for its beachy vibes. She says the region for its beachy vibes. She says Lake Michigan is one of her favorite parts of the area.

“I’ve always loved West Michigan, and I have family ties in Ludington, so I was somewhat familiar with the Muskegon area,” she says. “Having so many beaches and shorelines in our community is very unique with our inland lakes and rivers. The Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park is one of my favorite amenities with something to do every season of the year, such as zip lining, rock climbing, archery, hiking, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and, of course, the luge.”

Schneider says the community is a great place for families. Although her son is preparing to head to college outside of the region, Schneider says he will have many opportunities to have an engineering internship at one of the area’s growing firms. Summers at home will also mean they can enjoy spending time together during one of the most vibrant times of the year.

“There is always something to do in every season of the year, including festivals every week during the summer,” she says. “When I moved here, I took sailing lessons for something fun to do, and there are many opportunities to try new experiences.”

Among Schneider’s favorite places to patronize is the Muskegon Farmers Market, nestled in the heart of downtown near museums and restaurants. She also recommends Wonderland Distilling Co., Aldea Coffee, Cajun Cuisine by Us, Pigeon Hill Brewing Company, Nipote’s Italian Kitchen, Navarro’s in Muskegon Heights and Old Channel Inn located in Montague.

“There is always something to do in every season of the year, including festivals every week during the summer.”

Marla Schneider, president and CEO of Greater Muskegon Economic Development

“There are so many different and enjoyable communities that will make you feel like home – it’s easy to find your place here,” she says.

Promoting the region is her job, and Schneider says while larger cities might be on more employers’ radars, Muskegon is West Michigan’s best-kept secret.

“I don’t think that it has quite caught on to the rest of the tri-state area that Muskegon has shifted from a heavy industrial city to an environmentally conscious, inclusive community with an abundance of natural assets, beautiful beaches, winter activities and advanced industries that are beginning to attract a diversified workforce,” she says. “It is sure to catch on in the next decade.”

Affordable Options Abound Throughout Muskegon County

There are great housing choices in every direction. Older homes across Muskegon are coming to market, as are brand-new properties in nearby Ravenna, Roosevelt Park, Whitehall, Norton Shores, Fruitport and Montague. Prices are competitive, and homes sell fast – often within 14 days, according to Redfin. “Add all that up with very affordable price points, and it’s easy to find just what you’re looking for,” says Thomas Serio, owner/broker at Real Estate West.

What’s the Muskegon County housing landscape like in terms of property style and age?

I would say that, overall, Muskegon is primarily older homes, those built in the 1940s and 1950s. However, now we’re seeing a lot of new construction in the city itself. That’s happening in many neighborhoods, with new condominiums on Muskegon Lake and across the downtown area. There are also larger developments, like Adelaide Pointe, a planned complex of luxury condos and a high-rise building near downtown, and Odeno, a custom-home community in Fruitport Township.

Sounds like this revitalization trend is enhancing the housing stock in many ways. Is that the case?

These are all kinds of properties in terms of style and size, so it’s adding a lot of variety. You can get whatever you’re looking for in any neighborhood you choose. This really is a unique time to be buying a home here. The historical district downtown is experiencing a lot of revitalization of older homes, for instance, while the lakeside area is seeing a lot of vacation and rental properties coming. And across the area, homeowners are renovating existing homes.

What would you say to someone who’s just beginning to explore the market here?

They have a lot of opportunity! If they like a more suburban setting, there are more choices now and coming than we’ve had for a while. It’s the same in the city of Muskegon – there’s a lot of growth in both the city itself and its outskirts. The city changed some zoning to accommodate building on smaller lots than was previously allowed, and so we are seeing a lot of new activity. Whether it’s a newly constructed home or an existing one, pretty much anywhere here you can find an affordable property, and you’ll get a lot more for your money than in the surrounding areas.

– Joe Morris contributed to this article.

Get to Know the Muskegon Lakeshore

Thinking about moving to the Muskegon Lakeshore? Check out the latest edition of Livability Muskegon Lakeshore, Michigan.

MUSKEGON, MI — High concentrations of toxic PFAS chemicals found in surface water foam this summer on Muskegon Lake have West Michigan scientists scratching their heads.

Surface water foam which began to accumulate along the lake’s southern shoreline this summer has tested at 4,757 parts-per-trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, according to data from Grand Valley State University.

Although there are known legacy sources of PFAS in the Muskegon Lake watershed, experts say the recent increase in shoreline foaming is new and unexplained.

“I’ve worked there for 20-plus years and I’ve never noticed foam like this,” said Rick Rediske, an environmental chemistry professor at Grand Valley’s Annis Water Resources Institute on the lakefront in downtown Muskegon.

“There’s something that happened recently to cause this,” said Rediske, who has been heavily involved at PFAS sites elsewhere in Michigan. “We’ve never seen this before.”

Grand Valley took samples of the foam Aug. 19 at the Grand Trunk launch in the city’s Lakeside neighborhood.

The test results are an estimation and Grand Valley researchers say they may take more samples using a different protocol and certified sampling bottles.

MLive also observed foam on Aug. 19 accumulating at the Hartshorn Marina boat launch by the Adelaide Pointe development and next to the former Sappi paper mill site.

City residents told MLive of seeing large foam accumulations on Aug. 28, Sept. 1 and Sept. 6 near the lakeshore trail gazebo east of the Ruddiman Creek outlet.

Surface water foam is most often a natural occurrence, but PFAS foam is distinguished by its sticky whiteness and tendency to glob up like shaving cream, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).

On lakes, PFAS foam can occur year-round but tends to accumulate on breezy days when a chemical microlayer on the water surface froths up due to wind and wave action.

Testing has found PFAS levels in foam at other pollution sites such as the Rogue River near the former Wolverine Worldwide tannery in Rockford, in Van Etten Lake near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Lake Margrethe near the Camp Grayling base and in the Thornapple River downstream of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

The state health department issues an advisory each year ahead of Memorial Day warning people to avoid touching or accidentally ingesting surface water foam.

This year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified PFOS and PFOA, two of many known PFAS compounds, as “hazardous substances.” The chemicals are linked by health studies to various diseases and some cancers.

Regulators at Michigan EGLE take foam reports from the public but generally do not take samples because most foam will have some level of PFAS in it, said Abby Hendershott, director of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) at EGLE.

Foam reports are used to identify potential sources, she said. Unfortunately, there are many along Muskegon Lake.

“We’ve got a pretty target rich environment,” Hendershott said.

The closest is the former Sappi mill site — which contains high PFAS levels, according groundwater testing in 2022 which found PFOS at 780-ppt and PFOA at 1,800-ppt.

Muskegon developer Jon Rooks wants to convert the 120-acre site into a sizable mixed-use residential and commercial complex named Windward Pointe. It currently is owned by a group of local investors called Pure Muskegon LLC. State lawmakers gave Pure Muskegon a $15 million grant in 2022 to investigate and clean up PFAS at the property.

Data shows PFAS at Sappi is venting into the lake, said Jason Poll with the EGLE remediation division in Grand Rapids.

Poll said the state is reviewing a cleanup plan for Sappi. A century of industrial uses left the property very heavily contaminated and the site requires a “very high standard of care” before it could be safe for residential use, he said.

Methane in the soil is of particular concern due to the potential for vapor intrusion into new buildings and the risk of explosion if vapors build up, he said.

Beyond Sappi, there are several other known PFAS contamination sites around the Muskegon area.

Low concentrations have been found in the groundwater at the L3Harris Technologies plant on Getty Street. Moderate concentrations up to 290-ppt of PFOS have been found at the former BASF facility on Whitehall Road and the former Northside Landfill on East McMillan Road. Each of those sites drains to Muskegon Lake via creeks or the river.

The Muskegon County municipal wastewater plant on North Maple Island Road passes PFAS into the Muskegon River via its treated discharge.

The chemicals have been found at low concentration in Ruddiman Creek, which has been the subject of significant remediation and sediment removal over the years related to the Great Lakes Area of Concern de-listing efforts. In 2022, testing found PFOS at 13-ppt and PFOA at 11-ppt in creek water as it passed under W. Hackley Ave.

Other known local PFAS sources such as the Muskegon County Airport in Norton Shores, MAHLE Engine Components site on Harvey Street, Bofors Nobel site on Evanston Ave., former ESCO site on E. Barney Ave., Peerless Plating on Getty Street and Quality Plating on Mcilwraith Street discharge to Mona Lake via groundwater or local creeks.

While surface water testing has found PFAS in Mona Lake, “the foam on Muskegon Lake is much worse than I’ve ever seen on Mona Lake,” said Rediske.

Hendershott said it’s also possible that unknown sources from former industrial properties along the lakefront are venting PFAS into the lake. Contaminants buried in the sediment might also be dispersed through the water column if disturbed.

Once in the water, PFAS molecules migrate to the surface and, under breezy conditions, it doesn’t take high concentrations to create foam, she said.

“If you get enough wind and you get it blowing in one predominant direction, anything that’s on the lake would then get pushed to one end and it could create quite a bit of foam,” Hendershott said. “It’s kind of like a seiche.”

Rediske is skeptical that a previously known source is responsible for the foaming because those sources have been discharging to the lake for years without big foam events.

This level of foaming hasn’t been observed before, he said.

“I don’t know if it’s unusual meteorological conditions or construction or what,” Rediske said.

Related stories:

Algae toxins in Muskegon Lake exceeded safe levels

Windward Pointe approved despite PFAS concerns

Adelaide Pointe brings new life to Muskegon Lake

EGLE cites Adelaide Pointe developer

Methane a major concern at former Sappi site

EPA designates two PFAS as ‘hazardous’

Rainbow smelt are lower in PFAS than thought

Michigan bills would stiffen pollution laws

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