Rockford Construction

Jun 9, 2025

June 9, 2025 This former bank branch and vacant lot on Bridge Street was previously eyed for a food truck court. Credit: Kate Carlson, Crain's Grand Rapids Business A Lansing-based developer and restaurant owner is stepping in with plans for a Bridge Street site after a separate proposal for a food truck court fell through. Kris Elliott, president of Evergreen Companies Inc., acquired the parcels at 614 Bridge St. NW and 346 Lexington Ave. NW in May for $2 million. Elliott purchased the properties at the intersection of Bridge and Stocking Avenue from an affiliate of Rockford, formerly Rockford Construction. Elliott said he’s not ready to detail plans for the two parcels, but he is “actively designing a multi-concept quick serve/full serve restaurant, bar, entertainment facility for the corner of Bridge and Stocking.” David Meikle, who owns The Back Lot food truck courts in Petoskey and Charlevoix, had planned to build a food truck concept on several Bridge Street properties, including the parcels Elliott just purchased. Meikle told Crain’s Grand Rapids Business he is no longer pursuing plans for a Back Lot project in Grand Rapids. “I just couldn’t make it work,” Meikle said. The Bridge Street property contains a 4,350-square-foot building that most recently served as a bank branch, along with an adjacent surface lot. The adjacent Lexington Avenue property is a paved vacant lot. Elliott’s purchase came as the developer bought a separate, nearby property at 425 Stocking Ave. NW for $965,000, according to online property records. The property contains a 10,230-square-foot building where a Dollar General store operates, and an adjacent surface parking lot. As for next steps at the Dollar General building, Elliott said there’s “nothing to report at this time.” Kris Elliott acquired this property at 425 Stocking Ave. that includes a Dollar General in May. Credit: Kate Carlson Elliott nearly 20 years ago developed Loose Leaf Lofts, a former warehouse at 333 Commerce Ave. SW in downtown Grand Rapids, which he sold for $6.2 million in November last year to Granger Group. He also owns Grand Woods Lounge restaurant and bar, and Dublin Hall, both in downtown Grand Rapids. “The Bridge Street corridor and surrounding neighborhood have been strong and growing for several years and we are very excited to be able to provide several new and unique hospitality and entertainment options to the residents and visitors of the area,” Elliott said. Advisers from Bradley Co. represented both Elliott as well as the seller in the Stocking Avenue transaction, which was finalized on May 22. “It’s always exciting to see new things taking shape on the west side,” said Drew Nelson, vice president of Bradley Co., who represented the seller, 425 Stocking LLC. The entity is registered to Jeffrey Shull, managing member at White Pine Capital LLC, a West Michigan commercial real estate investment company. Shull purchased the property in 2015 for $900,000 from Bill Bowling, Bradley Co.’s senior vice president. The Dollar General property is located across the street from The Hendrik apartments, which includes Bridge Street Market. It’s also a block north of Talbot Development’s 148-unit mixed-use project called Verdant, which is under construction at the former Duthler’s grocery store at 648 Bridge St. NW and 345 Lexington Ave. NW. The property is also approximately a half mile away from the Amway Stadium development that’s under construction just west of U.S. 131 and north of Pearl Street. Elsewhere in the city, Elliott in 2023 was weighing the potential redevelopment of a nearly 1-acre parcel at 241 State St. SE into a mixed-use residential and commercial project, though those plans did not come to fruition. More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business: