Built in the 1930’s, The Corner church on West Muskegon Avenue and Third passed through the ownership of several churches and now into the hands of the Bernhardt family which bought it in June for $500,000.
“We thought, huh, that could work for what we all are trying to do. We all are entrepreneurs in the family. We all want to have our own stake in Muskegon.”
Victoria Bernhardt is the youngest sibling in the family, all born and raised in Muskegon. She owns a plant store already open at the site, which will also host with her mother’s holistic health business, her sister’s Broadway Bootcamp theater program and the soon-to-open Play Muskegon. Plans are to use the auditorium upstairs for weddings, reunions, speakers and community events but that will take some time. Although the structure is sound, renovations will cost millions of dollars over the coming years.
“Every surface of this building needs a little touch-up whether its paint or restoring all the stained-glass windows – there are over 50 of them.”
Exterior renovations and updated bathrooms are also on the list.
Bernhardt says her family believes in the ongoing growth of Muskegon and are pleased residents are excited about the new opportunities for The Corner.
“Because it’s so perfectly located in downtown Muskegon and something new had to happen and we’re just so excited we can be that.”
The Stage at The Corner hosts its first big event later this month – a comedy show on September 27.
