In 2016 a group of six families contacted the Lake Orion DDA to propose the idea of turning run down building that housed “Ye Old Antiques” into a place that would be not only unique to Lake Orion but also this part of the country – an intimate listening room combined with a cafe and creamery that would have an offering for almost everyone in our community.
The task was daunting as every part of the building had to be completely restored. It was important to us to preserve the look of the building built by Cleon Middleton in 1938 as “Middleton Dairy” and the DDA helped walk us through the process of applying for a historic preservation facade grant.
Without that support we could not have moved forward and most likely by now our building would have been demoed.
The ways DDA Executive Director Molly LaLone and her team have supported us over the past seven years through many trials, including being closed for 16 months during Covid, are immeasurable.
Our partnership with them to bring national touring artists to Lake Orion during the summer gazebo concert series has brought hundreds of people downtown from great distances.
Only seven years ago downtown LO was a very sleepy town with many vacancies and very little to offer. Without the DDA it won’t take long to get back to that rather than continue to make our community a great place to own a business, shop, dine and live.
Please vote No on the Nov. 7 ballot proposal which seeks to defund the Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority!

Allan Goetz
Co-founder of 20 Front Street