ONE-OF-A-KIND CAMPUS

With an internal space of 416,000 square feet situated on a campus of more than 120 acres, this unique platform will be home to a mixed-use business model centered on three primary commercial ventures:

THREE PRIMARY COMMERCIAL VENTURES

EVENTS
A center for multiple, simultaneous conventions, conferences and cultural events, supported by a boutique hotel and outdoor recreation in a vintage space with amazing features and views.

BEER
A production facility for multiple partner brewers and distillers, with taprooms, vintage bars and one of the nation’s largest museums dedicated to the history of American brewing.

MUSIC
A multi-venue destination that can simultaneously host indoor and outdoor events with first-class amenities.

Within walking distance of historic Downtown Vicksburg sits The Mill at Vicksburg, located in one of the most dynamic economic and tourism regions in the nation, with tens of millions of viable customers within a few hours’ drive.

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE MILL AT VICKSBURG:

• 210–223 construction jobs
• 1,852 jobs within the project’s first five years of operation
• $214 million in new wages
• $399 million in value added to Kalamazoo County
• $60 million in new state and local taxes

2017 THIRD-PARTY ANALYSIS ESTIMATE

MAJOR ECONOMIC ENGINE

The Mill at Vicksburg will not only become a primary destination attracting tens of thousands of conventioneers and tourists from the Great Lakes region and beyond, but a major economic engine within Southwest Michigan.

A Unique, Beautiful & Historic Space with Surrounding Campus

Too many event centers look and feel like event centers, meaning they’ve been functionally designed to facilitate moving exhibitors and visitors in and out. Some are sterile and utilitarian. But The Mill at Vicksburg will be a Class A space that inspires and charms, lending character to events and making visits memorable. Instead of concrete walls and corrugated steel roofs, exhibitors and attendees will gather on century-old wooden floors under restored wooden-truss ceilings surrounded by massive windows built into restored masonry walls, gazing onto a campus of natural beauty and community spaces.

Capacity & Configurability

The Mill at Vicksburg will offer over 150,000 square feet of flexible, indoor meeting and exhibition space. Exquisite meeting rooms with natural lighting will accommodate gatherings for dozens, or for thousands. Beautiful outdoor spaces can be used individually, or in conjunction with indoor events. On-site accommodations in the 100-room boutique hotel, configurable spaces, ramps and roll-up doors allow for any event imaginable—everything from a leadership summit to a car show to the wedding of the century. It’s all possible at The Mill.

Comprehensive On-Site Services & Amenities

Event planners will enjoy full-service support from planning through execution. Catering, audio-visual, IT and concierge staff will make every event concept possible and successful. Technical infrastructure will provide for network, communications, electrical and mechanical needs for shows, conferences and exhibitions.

Combine Indoor & Outdoor Venues to Accommodate Any Event

Unlike most event centers, The Mill at Vicksburg will provide both indoor and outdoor venues that can be combined and configured to accommodate any event concept. These include the Old Stove Beer Garden, East Yard Performance and Event Space, Event Pavilion, Lawn and Terrace Spaces, Spanish Steps and Courtyard, Groves and Garden Areas, Fountain Trellis and Terrace and outdoor spaces.

Entertainment Options Abound

Event participants can enjoy eclectic indoor experiences at The Mill including music, brewery and distillery tours and tastings in taprooms and vintage pubs and a museum celebrating American brewing. There also will be several outdoor recreational activities including hiking trails, the historic Downtown Vicksburg Village within walking distance and one of the region’s premium golf courses just minutes away.

One vendor for ease of booking, services & support

The Mill at Vicksburg is wholly owned and operated by Paper City Development, so event planners only have to deal with one vendor for booking, services and support. Event packages are completely customizable to make any concept a reality, with planning and execution simple for event owners and planners.

DESIGNED FOR BEER & BREWERY ENTHUSIASTS

The Mill at Vicksburg will become a national destination for all things beer: brewing, development, education, tours, museums and of course, tasting and enjoying.

The Mill at Vicksburg will contain multiple production brewery spaces, including incubation and innovation, laboratories, grain storage, canning/bottling/kegging, cold storage and shipping. Visitors will be able to tour and learn about the art, science and business of craft brewing. And, most importantly, visitors will be able to taste Old Stove brews as well as some partner brands sharing common production spaces.

Regional craft distillers will work and collaborate alongside brewers to develop exciting new spirits and flavors using local ingredients in the Innovation Center.

The Mill at Vicksburg will become a destination for beer and brewery enthusiasts by hosting brewers guilds, brewers conferences, beer festivals and tastings.

Tasting Spaces

The Mill at Vicksburg will have a variety of spaces for enjoying craft beer and spirits. Old Stove will bring its award-winning taproom experience from Pike Place Market in Seattle, and various vintage saloons scattered throughout the facility will allow visitors to learn about different eras of American brewing. Outdoor plazas and gardens will offer spaces to enjoy a beer in the sunshine, next to a fire pit, while playing lawn games or listening to music.

Brewery Museums

Throughout The Mill, museums will tell the story of American brewing, particularly the regional breweries that both reflected and shaped American culture through the mid-20th century. The Mill’s own collection of brewing memorabilia from these vintage regional brands will be on display, as well as guest and touring exhibitions. The Brewery Museum will feature breweriana—articles containing brewery or brand names, such as beer cans and bottles, openers, labels, tin and neon signs, beer mats, taps, wooden cases and more. The Mill at Vicksburg will be home to a rich experience in brewing history.

AN AWARD-WINNING SEATTLE BRAND IS COMING HOME TO VICKSBURG

Vicksburg native Chris Moore launched Old Stove Brewing in the world-famous Pike Place Market in Seattle. Old Stove has gone on to win awards for its beers, and its open-air space was voted Seattle’s best taproom and tasting experience. What most don’t realize is that the name “Old Stove” was Chris’ way of paying homage to the Kalamazoo Stove Company, one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial businesses of its era. Old Stove is expanding into the Great Lakes region with The Mill at Vicksburg as its regional production and distribution facility.

Character of Venues

The Mill at Vicksburg can simultaneously host a variety of shows with state-of-the-art technology.

The range and scope of music products offered on one campus make The Mill a unique, best-in-class destination. With on-site amenities and accommodations, visitors can turn a show into a weekend getaway.

Proximity to Population Centers & Highways

Tens of millions of people live within a few-hundred-mile radius of The Mill at Vicksburg, which is located near the intersection of major interstate highways and within about an hour of four airports. The variety of products will attract a wide range of customers to both its indoor and outdoor venues to enjoy a beer, a bite and an evening show.

EXCEPTIONAL AMENITIES

The Mill at Vicksburg’s quality facilities and interlocking business models will offer a superior experience with plenty of indoor restrooms, taprooms and dining options, and even a boutique hotel for overnight stays. With brewery and museum tours and outdoor recreation, The Mill at Vicksburg will be an ideal location for a weekend getaway from Chicago, Grand Rapids or Detroit.

pure michigan

No wonder tourism is a major industry here. Thanks to efforts like the Pure Michigan campaign, in 2017 visitors to Michigan spent over $24.7 billion, resulting in over 340,000 direct and indirect jobs in the state. Southwest Michigan tourism generated over 57,000 jobs and $1.7 billion in revenue.

Beer tourism, conventions, cultural arts festivals and live music are proven draws and pillars supporting tourism to the area. By creating a premier platform for these products, The Mill at Vicksburg is perfectly situated to be a major attraction to benefit from and further drive visitors to Southwest Michigan. It will serve and expand a proven market by offering high-quality brewing, entertainment and event products in the most unique space imaginable.

RESTORING & BEAUTIFYING THIS HISTORIC SITE

The current brownfield site will be beautified and restored with historic aspects reimagined in creative ways through the assistance of architects, landscape designers and a world-renowned artist.

Soil and stream sediments impacted by historic operations will be remediated. New topsoil will be added to encourage the healthy growth of plants as well as protect against exposures associated with impacted shallow soils. Walkways will enlighten the eye and promote access to the restored creek and natural areas of the site, as well as connect the development to the Village and area amenities.

new spaces with historic significance

The footprint of the former screw-press building used to dewater paper residuals will be transformed into a water feature for visitors to enjoy. The footprint of the former wastewater treatment clarifier will be reimagined as an overlook to the restored creek. The rail spurs will be converted to walkways, and the associated rail platforms into balconies. Artwork will prompt visitors to imagine the creative reuse of materials, treatment of storm water, sustainable energy use and environmental protections employed by the redevelopment.

educational experience

Even while this transformation and restoration is going on, The Mill at Vicksburg campus is already serving the community as an educational laboratory. For example, students have been learning about the importance of pollinators to our local communities and beyond. Paper City Development worked with a local Vicksburg farmer to plant several acres of buckwheat and eight acres of sunflowers to attract local pollinators, like honeybees, to the 80 acres located to the west of The Mill. Other educational laboratory projects are planned as an essential element of The Mill.

honoring a legacy

The Mill at Vicksburg has partnered with the award-winning, nationally recognized design firm HopkinsBurns Design Studio to authentically restore the structure. Nothing like it will be built again, and no expense is being spared to bring it back to life properly. Exceptional research, care and craftsmanship are coming together to honor and extend The Mill’s legacy.

Honoring the Past

The East Wing will include expansive, elegant spaces for special events. Spaces that once produced the finest writing paper in America will be filled with brew kettles, stills and taprooms. The West Wing of the building will be renovated to become a mixture of hotel rooms for visitors and apartments for residents. The old machine room and powerhouse that once fueled The Mill will also be renovated to accommodate for special events, surrounded by unique focal points like a massive crane and beautiful masonry walls and windows.

HONORING THE WORK

To authentically restore the structure to historic standards:

• 40 masons

• 2 years of work

• 3.2 million bricks

Preserving history

Every care and expense is being taken to preserve the historic and architectural character of the structure. Its beautiful vaulted ceilings, wooden floors, massive windows and masonry are being reconstructed using authentic materials and historic methods. In every way possible, the craftsmanship and heritage of this magnificent building is being honored, preserved and showcased for new generations.

Lee Paper Company

During its period of significance between 1905 and 1958, The Mill turned fabric rags into fine writing paper, producing over 17 tons of product per day at its peak. It was Vicksburg’s leading employer, with local ownership that took pride in the Village, the facility and amenities, and they provided for employees and their families. The profits stayed in the area and became the economic and cultural engine that drove the community. It gave the Village its identity and opportunity. It defined its skyline. Its whistle ordered the day’s activities for miles around. It created friendships and families for generations. It was something from another era—when communities bonded around shared work; when sons learned trades from their fathers and their grandfathers.

Simpson Lee Paper Company

In 1959, the Lee Paper Company merged with the Simpson Timber Company of Seattle, Washington. Simpson Lee Paper Company thrived in the 1960s and 70s adding many paper mills nationwide, the majority of which were managed by former Vicksburg employees.

Over time, changes in the paper industry made the aging Vicksburg mill less viable and production moved elsewhere. The specific nature of the facility’s design didn’t adapt easily to other purposes. When The Mill shut down in 2001, it broke Vicksburg’s heart. It seemed that no one would occupy it, and no one could afford to knock it down and haul the aging bricks away.

A New Vision

Until Chris Moore came along with a new vision and business model to resurrect this 114-year-old treasure. By restoring the structures and the land, and producing new categories of high-quality products and services, The Mill at Vicksburg will have a new period of significance in which local ownership and orientation will make it once again the economic and cultural engine for another century.

The Mill received the honor of being accepted to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Harnessing Water Power

Three miles to the west, at the current site of the Vicksburg Mill, a pure, spring-fed creek dropped a remarkable eight feet, rare for a waterfall in the relatively flat topography of the region. That much kinetic energy was a powerful resource in pre-industrial America. In 1831, John Vickers harnessed that hydropower, building a dam over the top of the waterfall to run a grist mill that converted local farmers’ grain into marketable product. The dam produced a mill-pond behind it, and around this creek, mill and pond, a village formed. Eventually, the spring-fed waterway became known as Portage Creek; the pond, Sunset Lake; and the village through which they ran was incorporated in 1871 as Vicksburg, after John Vickers, the first miller.

Ideal Location for Paper Production

In 1872, two railroad trunk lines—one going north-south and the other east-west—intersected next to Sunset Lake. Among other things, this allowed Vicksburg to start a thriving business “harvesting” ice to be loaded and transported to ice storage facilities and to refrigerate meat and dairy products in specialized rail cars. In 1879, Vicksburg got its own newspaper, the Vicksburg Semi-Weekly Commercial.

By the early 20th century, the Kalamazoo area had become a global leader in paper production. The abundant raw materials, railroad lines with transport to major cities like Chicago and Detroit and the Kalamazoo River made it an ideal location. With 25 mills, it was producing more book paper than anywhere in the world.

Production to Prosperity to Contamination

Prominent Kalamazoo-area industrialists including George Bardeen and Fred Lee recognized that the combination of pure water from Portage Creek—essential for the manufacture of fine writing paper from cotton rags—and its remarkable waterfall, along with the adjacent rail lines, made Vicksburg an ideal location for a new mill. In 1903, they formed the Lee Paper Company, and in 1905 the mill we are restoring today began production.

Ironically, over the decades that followed, the pure water of the creek brought prosperity to Vicksburg, but downstream it was contaminated by the production process, and ash heaps accumulated in the field adjacent to The Mill’s buildings. Our restoration of this brownfield site will return the creek to its original, pristine condition.

A Village & Its Mill

The Mill and the Village of Vicksburg have always had a symbiotic relationship; geographically, economically and culturally.

Paper City Development is working closely with the Village to restore and repurpose key structures downtown, contributing to a thriving community for local residents, businesses and schools.

A Vibrant Downtown Vicksburg

The Mill inspires creativity and is already serving its community in unique ways. The Prairie Ronde Artist Residency Program is providing studio space for painters and sculptors and bringing local residents in for showings.

Over the decades, beautiful examples of early 20th-century architecture in Downtown Vicksburg fell into disrepair, or were remodeled without preserving their historic character. Paper City Development is working to lovingly restore and repurpose these historic “Main Street” buildings to serve the local community and visitors to The Mill. A vibrant Downtown Vicksburg—only a short walk away—will complement the attractions on The Mill campus and help build a dynamic, local economy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We’d like to thank the citizens of Vicksburg, the many branches of local government, the State of Michigan and countless others who have offered support, guidance and encouragement throughout this project.

We also want to acknowledge our amazing team of vendors and contractors who have been working to “make something Big happen” in Vicksburg. We enlisted many to assist us in the production of this book, and we would like to recognize them:

THANK YOU

Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio – Renderings

HopkinsBurns Design Studio – Renderings

Bjarko Serra Architects – Renderings

The Vicksburg Historical Society and Sue Moore – Historic Images

Kalamazoo Aerial Media – Photography

Natalya Critchley – Former Prairie Ronde Artist Resident

Jackie Koney – Team Leader

John Kern – Team Support

The Image Shoppe – Brand & Creative Partner