MiBiz.com’s top-read stories of 2020 – MiBiz: West Michigan Business News

MiBiz readers showed a strong interest in our COVID-19 coverage this year, as well as news about free tuition, business layoffs, bankruptcies, restaurants, beer and marijuana.

Readership of MiBiz.com also grew even as we transitioned to a new paywall model for online stories. Its been a year like no other for all of us and we are grateful for your continued support and interest. (You can subscribe to MiBiz at this link.)

In early 2020 before the pandemic hit, Grand Rapids Community College announced that students who attend high school in Grand Rapids could receive tuition at GRCC, starting with the class of 2020. The plan was approved by the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority board. News of the approval was MiBizs top-read story of 2020.

According to web traffic data, six of MiBizs top 10 read stories in 2020 involved the pandemic, including the top-read COVID-19 story from March 23 about construction companies first assessing what a statewide stay-home order meant for them. That first week of the pandemic had top-read stories about Gov. Gretchen Whitmers first stay-home order, which was opposed by leading business groups but followed similar actions in Illinois and Ohio. Despite not knowing the extent of COVID-19 in mid March which would lead to nearly 500,000 cases and more than 12,000 deaths in nine months restaurants and bars at the time were concerned about a statewide stay-home order, which one brewery said would be a bloodbath for the industry. More top-read COVID-19 stories included the effects that the pandemic had on furniture manufacturers Herman Miller Inc. and Steelcase Inc.

A recent year-end Q&A in the MiBiz Crystal Ball issue featured born-and-raised Muskegon resident Greg Maki, who discussed his local roots and early entry into the cannabis market. Maki, the owner of Agri-Med LLC, also discussed why he thinks some West Michigan cities will soon be oversaturated with dispensaries.

The past year produced several stories of area companies that had been struggling financially heading into the pandemic and then pushed over the edge. That included Pace Industries LLC, which manufactures die-cast parts and was previously acquired by the former Port City Group operations in Muskegon, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April. Less than two months later, HopCat parent company BarFly Ventures LLC filed for Chapter 11, spurred by ongoing statewide restaurant and bar closures, which affected owner Mark Sellers, who filed for Chapter 11 personally, and later his Maxs South Seas Hideaway bar in Grand Rapids. Other notable bankruptcies in 2020 included Goodrich Quality Theaters Inc. and Grand Rapids-based alternative lifestyle company Purple East Plus Inc.

MiBiz readers were apparently eager to learn about the Grand Rapids areas first drag-themed burger bar, Hamburger Marys in Cascade Township. MiBiz broke the news in early October about the national chains first Michigan location.

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MiBiz.com's top-read stories of 2020 - MiBiz: West Michigan Business News