WHITEHALL, MI - Entrepreneur Kevin Spencer doesn’t see any reason why the city of Whitehall can’t mimic the successes of Grand Haven and Pentwater.
It has a walkable historic downtown, views and access to White Lake, and is near Lake Michigan. But it’s lacking in entertainment businesses, said Spencer who recently retired from Arconic and resigned from the Whitehall City Council to pursue several business ideas he believes will help Whitehall thrive.
“I just want to see this city get better,” Spencer said. “I think we have the capacity to be just like Pentwater and Grand Haven. With the waterfront we have, we should be just like those towns. There’s no reason we can’t be.”
His business idea that has turned the most heads so far is Pinheads bowling alley, which Spencer hopes to open this summer at 112 E. Colby St. in the heart of downtown Whitehall. Also on the agenda for this summer - or sooner - is an event center at the former New Beginnings Church, 200 S. Division St.
Spencer is planning at least two more businesses, but didn’t want to reveal them yet.
The original Pinheads operated at 115 Lake St. from 1958 to 2006. The building was demolished in 2016. But Spencer’s revival of the name doesn’t mean his business would look anything like its predecessor.
“This is not your grandparents’” bowling alley, he said.
His plans include a restaurant, bar, and outdoor games and seating. The six-lane alley would feature the latest and greatest bowling technology from quick pin reset and ball return to plush seating and laser lights, Spencer said.
It would look similar to Lucky Strike in Novi, he said.
The vacant building previously housed Habitat for Humanity’s Restore. It sits between the Arts Council of White Lake - Nuveen Center and Bell’s of Whitehall.
A 30-by-120-foot alley separates the building from the Bell’s furniture store. Spencer plans to use the space for seating, games, music and barbecuing.
Inside, the six lanes would be accompanied by four pool tables, restaurant seating and a bar, Spencer said. The main kitchen equipment is expected to be an Italian wood-fired pizza oven.
He also is planning an event center in the unique setting of a former church. Built in 1876, the old church features 1900-era, stained-glass windows made in Chicago that he says are “more valuable than the building.”
The aged building is “in nice shape,” Spencer said. He plans to remove pews, resurface the floors and add accessibility features before opening for such events as weddings, receptions, concerts and exercise classes.
He had planned to open in March, but delays in the sale prevented that. The building is owned by New Beginnings Church, which recently built a new worship center at 1830 W. White Lake Drive.
“Whitehall needs these businesses very badly,” Spencer said. “If you look around Whitehall, there’s nothing to do other than the lake and the four-screen cinema. These businesses are born out of being on council and spending every meeting saying we need more businesses in Whitehall.”
The city put some work toward that goal of increasing foot traffic and pedestrian time spent in downtown Whitehall when Colby Street got a $1 million streetscape in 2017 that included sidewalks, trees, lighting and seating.
Spencer, who moved to the White Lake area in 2008, is in a position to take advantage of private sector opportunities. He was on city council for more than two years before resigning in February to focus on his business pursuits.
“The only thing that saved Whitehall over the last five years is Fetch (Brewing)," he said. “That spurred me to say,'What else can we do?' I want to see Whitehall be successful. These businesses will make Whitehall pop - it’s going to be the place to be this summer.”