New Downtown Flooring Business Bolsters S. Lane St. Merchant Base

Village officials, Downtown Development Authority members, and local business owners gathered in downtown Blissfield Thursday morning to attend the grand opening of Eric Slusher Flooring at 135 South Lane Street.

Along with the official visitors, new customers and curious passers-by took advantage of the Slushers’ hospitality and helped themselves to the complementary coffee and donuts, while checking out the inventory of the downtown’s newest business.

 Eric and Diana Slusher bought the building, which was formerly Treasures and Pleasures, in June and have been repairing the minor damage that the property suffered when neighboring businesses Cakes ‘N’ Shakes and Royal Expressions were gutted by a fire in February.

  Together, the three affected businesses, through independent restoration efforts, have helped to preserve a historic section of Blissfield. The Slusher’s task was less extensive and more quickly completed, and the grand opening was welcomed with an outpouring of support at the ribbon-cutting.

 Michael Sessions, Blissfield’s new Michigan Main Street Program director, thanked the Slushers on behalf of the downtown merchants and the community at large for their participation in sustaining a part of the village. Sessions also read congratulatory letters from State Representative Dudley Spade and State Senator Cameron Brown. Both legislators had been invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony but had other commitments and responded instead with letters commending the entrepreneurial spirit of the Slushers.

 When the ribbon was cut, the pieces fell like confetti with Eric and Diana Slusher, Village President Jae Guetschow, and Village Administrator Jim Wonacott taking part in the ceremony.

 Inside the store, which is stocked with a wide range of flooring material including an extensive selection of carpets with displays of samples and other floor coverings that range from vinyl to ceramic tile.

An impressive example of the versatility and color of ceramic tile greets the customer upon entering the store, as the front door swings open over the display that Eric installed as part of the renovation. He said that tile provides a durable and versatile surface that homeowners may find ideal as an all-weather flooring surface for either a front or rear entrance. The tile is impervious to Michigan’s summer mud and winter snow.

Other than the tiled entryway, the Slushers have kept the restoration of the business as true to its historic roots as possible.

“My wife was very clear about not wanting to install a drop ceiling,” Eric said, referring to the ornate stamped tin ceiling in the store that was likely installed when the building was constructed. Tin ceilings were popular in the latter 19th century. They give the ceiling the appearance of an artistically iced wedding cake.

“We had a friend come in and repaint it,” said Diana. “We have tried to keep everything as close to the way it was originally as we possibly could as we got ready to open, and we plan to do the same upstairs.”

The Slushers are planning to turn the second floor into living quarters for themselves, but they want to take their time doing it. “We have some big plans,” Diana said, “but there is plenty of room upstairs for big plans because it is almost all open space.”

Even though Eric has 35 years of flooring experience, the Slushers will probably leave the pine flooring visible in many places in their home above Lane Street, but there will be plenty of opportunity for him to put his artistic floor covering materials and skills to good use. He may even employ another skill that he offers to his customers—glass block construction.

Eric Slusher Flooring is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “But we are always open by appointment, too,” Diana said. “Anyone who needs floor covering from a homeowner to a larger commercial business can get a private appointment for a longer consultation. We’ve handled just about any flooring situation you can imagine.”

 The store’s phone number is 517-486-3600.

The Slushers started out as First Choice Flooring in their original location between Tipton and Onsted. “We are looking forward to getting settled in Blissfield,” Diana said. “We feel right at home already.”

Eric Slusher Flooring is part of revitalization that the downtown is experiencing as new businesses move into the historic storefronts. Recently, Blissfield residents George and Kay Brown purchased the former Rose Auction building on South Lane Street across from the Slushers and are renovating the interior in anticipation of a grand opening soon, while the former Rubio’s, also on South Lane Street, is undergoing a transformation to become a new consignment emporium.