Grosse Pointe Art Center Moves to Permanent Location in Village

The Grosse Pointe Art Center moved, again.

This is the third home for the art center featuring the work of local artists in less than a year.

This home, unlike the others, is more permanent, however. The Grosse Pointe Art Center now has a normal lease for its space at 17118 Kercheval Ave. and cannot be willfully moved, said property manager James V. Bellanca Jr.

Bellanca manages 18 properties in the Village on behalf of a family trust. The trust has given the art center storefront space for the last several years under an arrangement that allowed it to be moved if a paying tenant were interested in the space.

The art center first opened in the Village in the former Village Toy store, where it remained for several years near Kercheval and Cadieux. The expansion of the bar area by City Kitchen spurred the art center's move to 17051--the former Hickey Walton Pierce building at Kercheval Avenue and St. Clair Street--last summer.

Now about 10 months later, the art center is moving because of a new restaurant that is planned for 17051 Kercheval Avenue. This is also the reason for the departure of Bellissima Boutique, Bellanca said.

Bellissima has relocated to Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Woods.

The art center announced on its Facebook page Wednesday that the move has been completed. In the post, excitement about having a permanent location is also expressed.

In prepartion for the move, the art center also received approval from the City of Grosse Pointe council for a new sign for the permanent location, which features handmade tiles.

The art center now occupies 17118 Kercheval Ave., which is on the opposite side of the street near CVS, Village Toy and Village Palm.