The new store features home decor, apparel, bath and body products, and many novelty items for household use or for gifts.

Griffin and Andrea James own and operate the store, which opened recently after the couple conducted an extensive search for the perfect location. After renovations and stocking, the doors are now open to service local and out-of-town customers.

Griffin said they wanted to open a store that was different from others downtown, but also appealed to everybody. As an added bonus, he said the store’s products are purchased from distributors that give a portion of their proceeds to charitable causes.

“A majority of our products give back to non-profit organizations, in their own communities,” Griffin said. “We wanted to open a store that would give back and have people leave here (happy).”

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Cedar and Threads owner Griffin James waits on customer Margie Haaxma while at the store on Friday. The new business stocks a wide variety of products and many of the proceeds go to charitable organizations.

James said one of the products, Rice Love, uses the sale of each piece of merchandise it sells, to feed a family.

“There is a card on the product that has a code you can type in on a computer and meet the family that you helped feed,” Griffin said. “People can leave the store knowing they purchased an awesome product, and also know you made a difference in helping someone or something.”

Support from friends and family helped get the business off the ground, Griffin said, and the hard work is beginning to pay off as customers begin to visit, and make purchases.

He said there is a lot of foot traffic by the store and he anticipates business will continue to grow as summer approaches.

Griffin, who sits on the Alpena Downtown Development Authority Board, said there are a lot of exciting things going on in Alpena and in downtown Alpena. He’s excited to be a part of the progress, and believes the downtown will become a premier destination for out-of-town visitors.

“I see it becoming a place that people will drive to from other areas of the state to visit,” he said. “I feel like we, as Alpenians, have for so long, have always gone to other communities’ downtowns and admired them. I feel the way ours is progressing, we have a lot to look forward to and the sky’s the limit.”

Later this summer, a new social district will open downtown, allowing visitors to purchase alcoholic beverages and drink them while they’re out and about.

Because Cedar and Threads doesn’t serve food or drink, it is eligible to allow people to shop while they have a drink in hand.

James said he intends to allow people with drinks to come into the store and browse his products and purchase what they want.

“You will be able to drink in here responsibly,” he said.