The corner where Detroiters bought hardware for nearly a century is coming back to life. The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $1.5 million grant on July 28 for the redevelopment of the former Busy Bee Hardware property at Gratiot Avenue and Russell Street, the vacant landmark at the edge of Eastern Market. Developer Roger Basmajian plans 17 apartments over ground-floor retail across the store and several neighboring historic buildings. Here is what is planned, what it costs, and why this corner matters.
The Busy Bee Project at a Glance
| Where | Gratiot Avenue and Russell Street, at the edge of Eastern Market |
| What | 17 apartments over ground-floor retail, across more than 22,000 square feet |
| Investment | About $12.6 million, per the state |
| State support | $1.5 million Michigan Community Revitalization Program grant, approved July 28 |
| Affordability | Four of the 17 units at or below 80 percent of area median income |
| Vacant since | 2017, when the hardware store closed |
A Corner With 99 Years of History
According to Basco, the development firm that owns the buildings, Julius Berkovitz opened Bee Hardware at this corner in 1918, the word Busy joined the name a few years later, and the store spread into the row of Victorian buildings east of the original storefront. For generations, it was where market vendors, restaurant owners, and east side homeowners went for whatever the job needed.
The run ended in 2017, when Busy Bee closed after nearly a century in business and the family put the properties up for sale. Basmajian bought the site in 2018, and the buildings have waited since, vacant but standing, through eight years of Eastern Market changing around them.
What the Redevelopment Includes
The plan rehabilitates the former store and several adjacent vacant historic structures rather than replacing them. Basmajian has said the work will bring the buildings back to State Historic Preservation Office standards.
Inside, the project puts 17 residential units above ground-floor commercial space, with studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts. Four of the units will rent at or below 80 percent of area median income. The state puts the retail footprint at 6,500 square feet, which Basco describes as two ground-floor retail or restaurant spaces, and the state says the full project covers more than 22,000 square feet. The state release adds that all of the retail space is intended for food-based tenants, a nod to the market district around it.
Why It Matters
Eastern Market is in the middle of the biggest rebuild in its modern history. The market opened Shed 7, a $16.5 million cold-storage facility, in June, and it plans to replace its 1938 Shed 4 with a two-story market hall. The Busy Bee corner sits at the district’s front door on Gratiot, and it has been the most visible piece of unfinished business there for years.
Filling it with residents also changes what the neighborhood is. Eastern Market has always been a place people visit on Saturday. Projects like this one make it a place people live on Tuesday.
What Happens Next
The grant is performance-based, which means the money follows completed work rather than arriving up front. No opening date has been announced, though Basco’s project page lists expected delivery in early 2028, and construction timelines on historic rehabs tend to move. When the corner reopens, it will do so within walking distance of the sheds, and our Community coverage will follow it there. For the district’s bigger picture, see what is planned for Shed 4 and the two-story market hall.
Busy Bee Redevelopment FAQ
What is planned?
17 apartments over ground-floor retail at the former Busy Bee Hardware property at Gratiot and Russell, plus rehab of several adjacent historic buildings.
What does it cost?
About $12.6 million in total capital investment, per the state, with a $1.5 million state grant approved July 28.
Will any units be affordable?
Four of the 17 will rent at or below 80 percent of area median income.
When does it open?
No opening date yet. Basco’s project page lists expected delivery in early 2028.