Renovations begin at long-vacant former Alexander's in Brighton

BRIGHTON — Renovations at the former Alexander's Land and Sea Grille have started, bringing Brighton one step closer to a pay-what-you-can café from local nonprofit Ivy Table.

Ivy Table recently closed on the building and hosted a celebratory event, attended by more than 60 volunteers. The 5,500-square-foot building at 10180 E. Grand River Ave. will be used to expand the food-based ministry and serve multiple meals per week to local families and individuals.

More: What's going into the former Alexander's in Brighton Township?

In addition to housing the café, it'll be rented out for private events and act as a new headquarters. The nonprofit's parent catering company, Whisk and Ivy, will use the kitchen part-time and rent the space as a commissary kitchen to other businesses to raise funds.

Ivy Table President Jessica Smokovitz launched Whisk and Ivy with two partners in 2019. The profits from the business helped fund the food ministry, but running Ivy Table as a nonprofit out of a local church limited growth.

“Hunger looks different to everyone, and there is demand here, even from families who are employed but (struggle financially),” Smokovitz said. “Anyone in need of a meal can stop by and there are no strings attached."

Ivy Table has served an average of 250-300 people for one meal per week out of the church, Smokovitz said. The meal includes fresh, healthy food — some of which is provided by local or chain retailers who, on any given day, could have “pallets of food” that would otherwise go to waste.

Smokovitz estimates one in 13 residents in Livingston County are food challenged. Of those residents, she says about 50% make too much to qualify for state or federal financial assistance.

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The former Alexander's has been empty for more than seven years, and will require new insulation and other upgrades. Smokovitz credits Foguth Financial in Brighton and the Ted and Jane Von Voightlander Foundation of Howell for matching donations of up to $85,000. In total, since April, the nonprofit has raised over $600,000.

Smokovitz hopes the building can be renovated and ready for operations as soon as possible. Realistically, she anticipates an opening around the holidays.

“If we have to get out hammers ourselves ... we’ll do that,” Smokovitz said. “Whatever it takes. We live in an incredibly generous community.”

Learn more at theivytable.org .

— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com .

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Renovations begin at long-vacant former Alexander's in Brighton