The Kalamazoo Mall is home to many vibrant local restaurants and businesses, each one unique in its own way. While it is possible to find a less original Quiznos or Jimmy John’s by straying off the mall, if you look a little harder you will not have to surrender yourself to the same sandwich you can find just about anywhere. Tucked away in the Kalamazoo City Centre lives Irving’s Market, a local market and deli.
Walking down the mall, you won’t find a store front but you will spy a sign sitting next to the entrances of the Kalamazoo City Centre highlighting Irving’s offerings. Irving’s Market has been around since February of 2005 when its doors were opened. The building used to be the home of the Gilmore Brothers Department Store until the store closed in 1999 after more than 100 years of business. The building was then bought in 2000 by the Meyer C. Weiner Company, a prominent developer known in Kalamazoo. They wanted to convert the building into apartments on the fifth and sixth floors. Kip Plew, owner of Irving’s, and a friend were in the commercial construction business at the time and helped with the construction of the apartments. The first floor was originally planned to be the first floor lobby of the Rave Movie Theater located across the street, with escalators traveling across the street from the lobby to where the theaters would be. But the plan fell through. Plew didn’t think anything of it until he was told the original plans for the theater’s lobby weren’t going through. When he found out there weren’t any plans for the first floor of the building, he was surprised and thought “if I was gonna do something down here, put in a little coffee shop or a convenience store or whatever, I simply started with the idea of ‘what would I call it?’” Irving S. Gilmore used to be a customer of Plew’s in the early eighties, a very valuable customer to him, and a big philanthropist in Kalamazoo. Plew with goosebumps on his arms, realized that “this is where Irving S. Gilmore lived.” With this idea, and a blessing from Irving S. Gilmore’s niece, Irving’s Market was born.
At the same time that the Walgreens a few store fronts down announced its closing in Downtown Kalamazoo, brainstorming for Irving’s Market had started. The closing of Walgreens meant no one downtown could buy “even a pack of gum,” said Plew. He sent out a survey to downtown businesses asking about items that people needed. The two most wanted items were pantyhose and rotisserie chicken. The idea of Irving’s went from a convenience store to a mini-market to a deli. Plew did all the renovations himself and finally Irving’s Market was created.
Irving’s Market caters to people who live in the building, people who work downtown, and people who simply enjoy the atmosphere. Irving’s has a lot of regulars. People who live in the building come in to Irving’s for their hot breakfast buffet or to simply to grab a cup of coffee. Irving’s serves Water Street Coffee, another Kalamazoo favorite. Plew likes to buy local, he likes to use all the local produce he can while it’s in season. All of his suppliers are local and he has brought local food products in to Irving’s to help them get started. When the farmer’s market is open, he sometimes gets produce from them. Michigan wines and microbrews are located along the back wall. On an adjacent wall lives fresh, and sometimes local, produce customers can pick up.
During the lunch rush, employees from Mangia Mangia, an Italian restaurant nearby, Radisson employees, and employees at the local running store, Gazelle, are all spotted. Police officers are also found in the market during lunch, their station sitting across the street from Irving’s. Plew is always out on the floor during lunch. He can be spotted by the sandwiches, chatting with patrons as they order their food, writing their orders and their names on white lunch bags. Two younger women come in and on their way over to the salad bar, they run into an older brunette woman who they know but didn’t plan on meeting at Irving’s. They have a small exchange, complimenting each other, “Oh, I love your jacket,” as they make themselves taco salads. Irving’s was recently downsized to open a gym for the downtown residents so their larger sitting area was broken up and most of the tables and chairs are now sitting out in the hallway. Patrons think it feels “big city,” notes Plew. By about 12:30 P.M., every table is full of people taking their lunch break or meeting a friend for lunch. One of the employees strikes up a conversation with a woman in her late twenties as she purchases a Mountain Dew, a Vitamin Water, and a bowl of soup. When she mentions she couldn’t find something, he quickly helps her out.
As the lunch rush dies down at about one o’clock, Irving’s still gets some stragglers. “Hi Michael!” is heard across the market, as the assumed Michael waves, then quickly heads out the door with a white lunch bag in hand. Irving’s busiest time of day is coming to a close and Plew is still out there because “if [he doesn’t] know what the customer wants, then it’s not going to get done.” Intended audience: The Index
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