I looked at every town in Michigan, and luckily it was both the town I loved the most and the best for business.
Dave Evanoski – Grand Haven Beach Company
“Welcome to the beach! I love Grand Haven. I always have. My first experience was in the summer of ’85. We moved here from Cleveland, and the first time we saw the musical fountain, it was a tribute to Led Zeppelin. It was the coolest thing ever. From a business perspective, I looked at every town in Michigan, and luckily it was both the town I loved the most and the best for business. We have some great stories here. A lot of local brands, a lot of shops here. They’re all local. I love being a part of that.
Tourism is a big part of Grand Haven, but the locals who live here, they’re down here every morning. I know them and their dogs. Their dogs are trained to come because I have dog treats. You’ll see them walking down to the pier, doing their jogging, so they’re just as much invested in the downtown area, as well as other areas like Centertown and Easton. Sometimes people ask, ‘Well, do locals shop here?’ Oh my gosh, yeah.
I look for the best quality garments, the best quality products. We test and make sure that they have safe ingredients. Our clothes don’t shrink. They’re soft, they stay soft. I do my own artwork, which makes us kind of unique. I want my customers to come back, and they do.
Before this, I was a professor at Grand Valley State University, teaching communication studies, mainly pre-law research methods, and public speaking.
I also spent 15 years in a lending division in the bank, working my way to the top, in California even, but I just really wanted to own a business and be part of Grand Haven. I love it here.
It’s hard to believe that this is my office, and I get to come here and work every day.
Have a beachy day!
