J. Scott Park | MLive.com

JACKSON, MI --Whenever a business closes in Jackson, there's an inevitable social media post from somebody saying, "Last one out of Jackson, hit the lights."

Judging by the new developments in 2019, it might be awhile.

This year, more than 50 Jackson-area businesses and developments either opened, started a construction project or announced plans for development.

From pinball to sushi, here's a look at what's new to the scene.

More: Restaurant, business openings in the Jackson area in 2018

More: These Jackson-area businesses shut down in 2019

Mary Lewandowski | MLive

Courtyard by Marriott

2010 Bondsteel Drive, Jackson

The Courtyard by Marriott opened near I-94 and U.S. 127 in October with 103 rooms.

Room types include double queen rooms, king rooms with sofa beds, king suites and double queen suites. They all have approximately 50-inch TVs with 45 to 60 channels, Netflix and an ability to connect to laptops, tablets and mobile devices.

More: New Courtyard by Marriott boosts hotel options in Jackson area

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Ramshackle Brewing Company

209 E. Chicago St., Jonesville

A 16-foot-wide alley is now a brewery in downtown Jonesville.

Ramshackle opened in July and offers beers on tap and lets customers bring in food from elsewhere.

It's known for its "Beer it Forward" wall, where customers can buy a beer for someone in particular or set the criteria for someone to receive a free beer -- like the first person to come in wearing chaps.

More: Ramshackle Brewing Company opens in former Jonesville alley

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Pac-Man Zone

1216 Jackson Crossing, Jackson

A pair of new arcades opened in Jackson in 2019. The one without alcohol is at Jackson Crossing near Kohl's, called Pac-Man Zone.

The arcade opened in November with games that cost 25 cents to $1.50. Game options include rail-gun shooters, racing games, a Pac-Man air hockey table and retro machines, such as Galaga.

More: Pac-Man-themed arcade debuts at Jackson Crossing mall

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Lead Bunker

3791 Ann Arbor Road, Jackson

The old Hostess Bakery store is now an indoor gun range, as Lead Bunker opened at the Leoni Township location in March.

The 13 lanes have electronic target movers, so no cease fires are necessary. Lanes go out to 22.5 yards.

Once (people) do come in and shoot a gun, its exciting, its fun, its a sport, its a challenge, Co-Owner Tammy Brindle said. Even elderly people. Little old ladies have come in. They love it.

More: Indoor gun range opens at old Hostess Bakery store

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Healthies 101

101 E. Michigan Ave., Jackson

A new shop in downtown Jackson offers meal-replacement smoothies, aloe shots and a variety of teas.

Healthies 101 boasts more than 50 smoothie flavors, including peanut butter chocolate explosion, Fruity Pebbles, French toast, Elvis, Lucky Charms, pineapple upside-down cake, lemon cookie and Almond Joy.

More: 'Instagram-worthy' smoothies hit downtown Jackson at new business

Mary Lewandowski | MLive

Dunham's

1038 Jackson Crossing, Jackson

Dunham's isn't new to Jackson, but it is new to the Jackson Crossing mall. It moved up the road on West Avenue from its previous location in October.

The new space is larger, with 32,000 square feet. With the extra space, Dunham's has added more exercise equipment, firearms, shoes and clothing to its selection.

More: Jackson Dunham's relocates, adding space for exercise equipment, firearms

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Klavon's

318 Kipp Road, Mason

This one's not really in the Jackson area, but claims a spot on the list because of the "Klavon's" namesake.

Klavon's opened its third location in March. At 10,000 square feet, the Mason spot is the largest of the Klavon's restaurants.

The wood-fired oven serving Neapolitan-style pizza sits in the main area of the restaurant and has a bar space where patrons can sit and watch pizzas being made.

More: Klavon's opens new location in Mason

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Axe Play

133 W. Michigan Ave., Suite D, Jackson

An ax-throwing bar with a "lumberjack-chic" feel opened in September in downtown Jackson.

With help from a Kickstarter campaign, the business offers five lanes of ax throwing and a bar with craft cocktails and beer.

We wanted to prove everybody else wrong whos saying theres nothing fun to do here (in Jackson), said Shane Stephens, one of the partners in the business.

Shots wont be sold and the partners say anyone whos had too much alcohol wont be touching axes, Axe Play officials said.

More: New ax-throwing bar already sold out for opening weekend

Mary Lewandowski | MLive

Qwench

1083 N. Wisner St., Jackson

Michigan has its first Qwench Juice Bar franchise, and it's in Jackson.

The franchise opened a location in December offering blends -- which are like smoothies -- and bowls. Qwench uses fresh fruits and vegetables and no additives.

"(People in Jackson) are excited to not have to go and have greasy burgers," Manager Octavia Myer said. They can have a nice healthy lunch grilled chicken, tofu, that kind of thing."

More: California-based Qwench Juice Bar opens first Michigan location

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Veritas

151 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson

High-end dining made a comeback in downtown Jackson in 2019, with the opening of Veritas.

The new restaurant offers dry-aged steaks, seafood, pasta and more. The salmon is flown in from the Faroe Islands near Scotland, while the rainbow trout comes from nearby Parma Township.

A restaurant called One Five One occupied the space before closing in 2014. Before that, it was Daryls Downtown Restaurant and Otellos.

More: Veritas ready to bring high-end dining to downtown Jackson

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

PS Food Mart at Citgo

815 Lansing Ave., Jackson

The Citgo gas station on Lansing Avenue closed this summer, as the convenience store was torn down and rebuilt.

The new store is 25 percent larger, has a beer cave and sells pizza.

More: Pizza, walk-in beer cave among additions as Jackson convenience store rebuilds

Mary Lewandowki | MLive.com

Michigan International Speedway Infield Care Center

12626 U.S. 12, Brooklyn

MIS cut the ribbon on a new building in August that most fans and drivers hope they dont find themselves in the infield care center.

The 4,000-square-foot space in the MIS infield will be used for races and the Faster Horses Festival in July.

More: MIS cuts ribbon on new care center for race weekends, Faster Horses Festival

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Tilted Arcade Bar

146 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson

It was Dr. Dons Famous Door. Then the strip club changed names, to become The Ruby Slipper.

But the downtown Jackson spot changed directions in June, reopening as an arcade bar.

The throwback arcade games and retro pinball offerings include Pac-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, NBA Jam, Ghost Busters, Star Wars, Deadpool and Donkey Kong.

More: Tilted Arcade Bar pairs pinball with pints in downtown Jackson

J. Scott Park | MLive.com

Ballzy Balls

1850 W. Michigan Ave. (Westwood Mall), Jackson

A new business that opened in April at Westwood Mall allows friends and strangers to knock each other over for fun.

It's like bumper cars, but with humans.

Everyone comes in with this idea of how theyre going to knock somebody around," Co-Owner Deon Chisolm said. "It always goes opposite.

More: Knock your friends on their rear at Jackson's newest entertainment venue

Read more:
Here are the businesses, developments that came to Jackson in 2019 - MLive.com

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Category: Retail Space Construction