New Downtown Stores get Building Permits

A whole host of new businesses just got the OK to move into new spaces among downtown Kent's redevelopment projects.

The city issued building permits for finishing work recently for four new businesses and one Kent firm that's relocating into the redevelopment section of downtown.

The businesses and building permits are:

• Insomnia Cookies, 295 S. Water St., tenant space build-out, $30,000
• UniversiTEES, 100 E. Erie St., Suite 118, tenant space build-out, $100,000
• Gracylane, 100 E. Erie St., Suite 124, tenant space build-out, $35,000
• Diversa, 155 E. Erie St., Suite 301 (), tenant space build-out, $50,000
• Panini's Restaurant, 295 S. Water St., Suite 104, tenant space build-out, $150,000

Except for Diversa, a Kent-based advertising firm, all the projects are going into the city and Fairmount Properties' new buildings on Erie and South Water streets.

Insomnia Cookies offers online ordering and delivery of — you guessed it — cookies. The business has more than a dozen locations in college towns across the U.S., including near Ohio State University, Ohio University, Penn State, Yale and Purdue.

Diversa is a Kent-based advertising, marketing, public relations and consulting firm founded in 1980 with accounts across the U.S., according to the firm's website. The firm will relocate to third-floor office space in Acorn Alley.

Ron Burbick, developer of Acorn Alley, said Diversa is expected to be open in the new space by Aug. 1.

Gracylane is a women's boutique that sells Vera Bradley handbags, accessories and other gifts. Gracylane has a location in Hudson's First & Main, which also was developed by Fairmount Properties.

Adam Branscomb, a development manager at Fairmount Properties, said the Kent Gracylane will modify its inventory to more closely target the Kent community.

"But there will be similarities to what you see in Hudson," Branscomb said.

UniversiTEES, like the new cookie store, has locations in college towns throughout the country. The business licenses apparel — T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, etc. — to universities throughout the Midwest, including Ohio State, Ohio University and the University of Kentucky, according to its website.

Panini's will be in the new Davey Resource Group building with 7,000 square feet of space between its large outdoor patio and interior.

Officials at Fairmount Properties expect its new tenants, which includes , will start opening in early September.