Eastside strip mall owners work to attract family-style restaurant

The Petzold family, owners of the Belmont Shopping Center at Eight Mile and Dequindre, are working to attract a family-style restaurant to their plaza. Recent efforts to improve the plaza have resulted in an increase in business as well as tenant stability.

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With the help of the neighborhood association, the Community United for Progress, and the Shina family, owners of Imperial Supermarket, the group raised matching funds for foundation grants. The contributions helped build a playscape, baseball diamond and a soccer field at the adjacent park with money left over for additional improvements. Think Detroit, a civic organization, helped form sport leagues at the site.

"We spent over $1 million on facade work with no guarantee that we could charge more rent. What happened was the community took more pride in our center. They hold an annual parade that starts in our parking lot," [plaza owner Tom] Petzold said.

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