Exciting Plans Unveiled For Renovation Of Historic Hayes Hotel In Jackson

As someone who grew up in the area, I'm cautiously excited. The Hotel Hayes, or Hayes Hotel (depending on who you talk to), in Jackson, Michigan, is slated to undergo a long-overdue rehabilitation. Residents have waited decades to see this, and thanks to J. Jeffers and Company, the renovations are scheduled to begin in Spring 2025.

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On Friday, November 22, 2024, J. Jeffers and Company held a community open house and announced that they have already begun pre-leasing space. According to MLive, the developer has signed a letter of intent with the GROW Group, which runs downtown Jackson's Doll n' Burger, Veritas, and the Grand River Brewery (all are stellar, in my opinion) to "activate" and operate the restaurant and the 2nd-floor Grand Ballroom once the dust settles.

Downtown Jackson, Michigan's Continued Evolution - Renaissance

I've watched downtown Jackson grow exponentially over the last 30 years. In the 90s, it was not an exaggeration to say you could have rolled a boulder (Indiana Jones style) down W. Michigan Avenue without disturbing anyone or anything. Simply put, that is not the case anymore.

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Afternoons and evenings in Jackson are filled with diners looking to satisfy their cravings or thirsts. The diversity of bars and restaurants draws folks from surrounding towns to spend the night sampling a little of each, yet it's still missing a key element.

More New Tenants Announced for Jackson, Michigan's Hayes Hotel - The Hayes

While there are some great retail shops downtown, many of which have been with Jackson through thick and thin, the area lacks the diversity needed to attract shoppers in mass. The Hayes, as it has been renamed, hopes to fill the void and open up a new block of possibilities for downtown Jackson's renaissance.

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Fox 47 reports that a bookstore/wine shop and a boutique have signed letters of intent to lease the space in addition to the restaurant, leaving just two spaces for, hopefully, more retail shops to move into downtown Jackson, Michigan. Fingers crossed.