The current outdoor mall on Preyde Blvd. near the intersection of Lake Lansing Road and US-127 will be augmented by not only four new restaurants but an expansion set to include 100,000-square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space as well as a new, 716-space parking deck that is also planned. Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza, Bar 30 restaurant and night club, Carlos and Jorge’s, a Latin-themed restaurant; and Eleven Prime, a steak and wine bar will join the town center’s booming town center.

Bar 30 and Tony Sacco's will be located next door to each other directly behind the NCG movie theater parking lot.

With the launch of Bar 30 and Tony Sacco’s, the first two of several new businesses to open in the upcoming months, anticipation is growing stronger. These two additions to Eastwood Town Center this spring have local residents of all ages, looking forward to quite an entertaining summer and beyond.

“I’ve been watching all of the construction since last year wondering what was being built. Finally, the signs were put up and when I saw Bar 30, I instantly became excited. East Lansing could use an affordable, but more upscale night club that offers more than all of the typical bars throughout the city.”

~Ashley Staley, Michigan Stat

e University Junior and East Lansing resident.

Construction workers are working diligently to bring these new businesses to life. Although full details are not being revealed about each business until their official grand openings, customers can look forward to enjoying a built in bar within Tony Sacco’s pizzeria while being able to watch their fresh coal oven pizza be made right before their eyes.

“You can witness everything being cooked on our open kitchen, right in the oven. Watch the guys toss the pizzas. It’s great for the kids.” ~Dan Zopf, Operating partner of Tony Saccos’s and Bar 30.

As for next door at Bar 30, Zopf shared a unique feature that guests will be sure to appreciate during their time at the night club.

“We’re super excited about some glass accordion doors that’s over half of the store front that are going to open up into the bar. So we can have a flow all the way out from our main bar out on the patio. People walking in and out on the patio,” said Zopf.

Guests can expect to have a good time in any weather condition with this indoor and outdoor accessibility.

“Michigan’s got a few months of good weather so we’re excited to take advantage of that with what we have,” Zopf continued.

While all of the physical grunt work is taking place, so is all the necessary marketing work being handled by other team members during this highly anticipated creation.

Cindy Kangas, CEO and Creative Director of Palette PR and Special Events is collaborating with the Heights at Eastwood team to ensure the word gets out about the new and exciting additions.

“I’m doing a lot of PR for the new businesses that are coming in. Once the construction is settled, I’ll start planning a lot of special events to bring more traffic out here,” Kangas said.

As for all of that expected traffic, builders also hinted at some unexpected surprises for the not-so-ordinary parking structure being built saying that guests are going to be amazed at a parking structure like they’ve never seen or experienced before.

 It’s safe to say the Heights at Eastwood is certainly keeping local residents on the edge of their seats. With the operation partners being East Lansing natives, the creation of the new development in their hometown makes the project that much more meaningful.

“It’s a local thing for us,”Zopf said.

The Heights at Eastwood is benefitting the community in more than just entertaining ways. Between the opening of all of the new businesses, at least 500 full-time and part-time positions will be available. The development will also make use of recycled materials for construction and improvements.

The new restaurants and retail space are set to open September 2012.

I just got an iPhone with birthday money on Friday, and have been loving the Instagram app. So much so, I’ll just let the photos speak for this weekend’s events.

My weekend was filled with delicious food and great times with my family. We are so lucky that everyone is just an hour away, and we have the time to visit! 

Oh, by the way, I got both of those books for $20 at Borders- they’re going out of business. I almost squealed when I saw Skinny Bitch! 

How did you spend your weekend?

Do you use Instagram? If so, follow me @ashveg!

 Instead of giving only my opinion on the subject, I would like all of my followers to tweet me their number one reason for home ownership.

 Please be creative!  The best submission will win a $25 Tony Sacco’s gift card. (This is not my weekly Retweet contest, just an added bonus.)

If you are not following me on Twitter and would still like to submit an entry, please send me an email: Nina@NinaKlemm.com

Thanks so much, and TWEET AWAY!

Good luck!