In December 2017, BCU announced a request for proposals for three buildings in downtown Battle Creek. At the same time, BCU announced a $200,000 incentive to attract a brewery/distillery to downtown Battle Creek. As a result of their proposal, Restore (269) will assume ownership of 15 Carlyle and rebrand it the Record Box, a nod to its historic past. The building was originally built for the Record Printing and Box Company, a manufacturer of paper cartons and boxes for breakfast foods.
BCU will award an additional $200,000 incentive to a startup brewery, which will occupy 6,000 square feet on the ground floor. This brewery expects to be up and running by fall 2019. This is the second announcement, of three, regarding new developments in downtown Battle Creek.
Restore (269) was founded by Battle Creek residents Cody and Caitlynn Newman in 2017 as a mechanism to restore the Battle Creek community through building restoration and development. Its namesake 269 refers to the area code for Battle Creek. Less than a year ago, the Newmans purchased the Ratti Building at 115-117 W. Michigan Avenue, located in the heart of downtown Battle Creek. Restore (269) transformed the property into a hip mixed-use space, with commercial and residential tenants. The building even includes a loft apartment which can be rented on Airbnb, showcasing downtown living.
“We wanted to continue this positive momentum and restore another historic building in downtown Battle Creek,” the Newmans stated. “Being a part of Battle Creek, we see opportunities for growth and hope to have some positive impact on our community. There are a lot of exciting projects happening in our city and we are thankful to be a part of it.”
BCU President & CEO Joe Sobieralski said, “Battle Creek is fortunate to have millennial visionaries like Cody and Caitlynn who are able to look into the future and see the potential in Battle Creek. The Newmans have the drive and desire to be a part of it.” He added, “BCU is doubling down on our brewery incentive. We received a number of strong proposals, and we feel multiple options are needed in downtown to help make Battle Creek a destination.” The Record Box will be located one block from New Holland’s Pub, which will sit at 64. W. Michigan Avenue.
Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury commented, “We couldn’t be happier to see Cody and Caitlynn continue to invest in and reimagine downtown Battle Creek! The Record Box will create an additional gathering space to allow people to enjoy not only the historic character of the Carlyle building, but also the beauty of the Battle Creek River. The excitement around all the great things happening in Battle Creek just keeps growing.”
Restore (269) will host an open house on May 18 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm. This coincides with the Spring into the Arts event to be held in downtown Battle Creek. The community is invited to attend. Further information regarding the future plans for the Record Box will be shared at that time.
Click on the links below to see the renderings.
