Cafe, gift shop coming to City Market

LANSING - Lansing City Market will soon have two new businesses - one focusing on Michigan-made products and the other specializing in coffee.

​Capital Loop Gifts will sell Lansing- and Michigan-themed art, gifts and souvenirs made by local artists.

"The concept is similar to what Michigania had before they closed," said Audrey Tipper, Lansing City Market manager. "The products I've seen are really cool, including a birdhouse made in the shape of a lighthouse."

River Town Cafe will feature fresh, roasted coffee in a variety of flavors from The Coffee Barrel in Holt, as well as espresso, cappuccino and lattes.

A small selection of food items, including muffins, granola bars, bagels and fudge will be available. The cafe will feature items from Glory Bee Sweet Treats in Mason and donuts from Glazed and Confused bakery.

From the Archives: Lansing City Market

Something else brand new to the market, Tipper says, is fresh produce, from green beans to lettuce to peppers, five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday.

"We are really working hard to revitalize the market and new vendors is a large piece of that," Tipper said. "We want to expand what we are doing for events. We want to be a destination and really focus on that fresh, local unique aspect."

Both businesses will be run by River Town Adventures, the same outfit that brought kayak rentals to the City Market.

"This is the third summer for River Town Adventures," Tipper said. "They started with four or five kayaks, and now they have more than 70. We  are really excited for them and to see that they are expanding."

Capital Loop Gifts will also be the new check-in spot for those who want to kayak with River Town Adventures.

A ribbon cutting for the new businesses will be held at 11 a.m. May 11 at the market, 325 City Market Drive.

Tipper says the gift shop will be open, and she hopes the cafe will open quickly.

Contact Vickki Dozier at (517) 267-1342 or vdozier@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter@vickkiD.