This advertisement for the Sluyter & Dykema tailoring and clothier business, said to date back to the early 20th century, was uncovered recently during restoration efforts at Frank’s Restaurant. Plans are for the sign to be restored and displayed within the restaurant.
Photo by Greg Chandler
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
As restoration efforts continue at Frank’s Restaurant from the April 18 fire that heavily damaged the iconic downtown diner, construction crews have uncovered a painted advertisement for a Zeeland business that may predate the restaurant itself.
Crews from Dan Vos Construction recently uncovered an advertisement for Sluyter & Dykema, a tailoring, clothing and men’s furnishing business that operated in Zeeland and several other West Michigan communities in the early 20th century. The advertisement is on the east wall of the restaurant, behind where Frank’s employees served customers and prepared food for many years.
“Part of the restoration is (cleaning up) smoke damage … that (involved) removing of the paneling (on the east wall). While under the paneling there was another layer, and there was another layer. You take one layer off, and it all starts to come down,” Frank’s owner Teresa Vander Zwaag said.
“We’re like, ‘what is that?’”
Vander Zwaag’s son, Caleb, who is a cook at Frank’s, was living above the restaurant and found that the top portion of the painted advertisement extended to his apartment, and had been restored years ago, she said.
So Teresa Vander Zwaag did some sleuthing to find out more about Sluyter & Dykema. Her research revealed that the business produced made-to-order suits and trousers, as well as cleaned, pressed and repaired clothes. She also found an advertisement for Sluyter & Dykema that appeared in the Zeeland Record in June 1908.
In other developments with the Frank’s restoration, Vander Zwaag said that the restaurant has purchased a new hood that will be needed for the grill to resume operations.
“A hood is critical for a restaurant. We cannot operate without a hood. We cannot (cook) burgers and fries without a hood,” Vander Zwaag said. “We just signed on the hood (last) Thursday after we met with Dan Vos, who approved all the mechanical plans.”
“The original hood was in the basement. That was a downdraft, and they think it was installed right after World War II,” Vander Zwaag added. “This is a long time coming.”
The city must approve permits for the mechanical work to take place, Vander Zwaag said.
Also in the works is a pass-through window that will be carved out of the brick on the east wall, connecting the main Frank’s location and Frank’s East, Vander Zwaag said.
“Those are not new proposals. That had been proposed in 2013 when Frank’s East was redone, but it never happened,” she said. “It’s a big undertaking, but we might as well do it now (while the restoration is taking place.”
Frank’s East continues to remain in operation with a limited menu. Updates are posted regularly on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Zeeland Record
As restoration efforts continue at Frank’s Restaurant from the April 18 fire that heavily damaged the iconic downtown diner, construction crews have uncovered a painted advertisement for a Zeeland business that may predate the restaurant itself.
Crews from Dan Vos Construction recently uncovered an advertisement for Sluyter & Dykema, a tailoring, clothing and men’s furnishing business that operated in Zeeland and several other West Michigan communities in the early 20th century. The advertisement is on the east wall of the restaurant, behind where Frank’s employees served customers and prepared food for many years.
“Part of the restoration is (cleaning up) smoke damage … that (involved) removing of the paneling (on the east wall). While under the paneling there was another layer, and there was another layer. You take one layer off, and it all starts to come down,” Frank’s owner Teresa Vander Zwaag said.
“We’re like, ‘what is that?’”
Vander Zwaag’s son, Caleb, who is a cook at Frank’s, was living above the restaurant and found that the top portion of the painted advertisement extended to his apartment, and had been restored years ago, she said.
So Teresa Vander Zwaag did some sleuthing to find out more about Sluyter & Dykema. Her research revealed that the business produced made-to-order suits and trousers, as well as cleaned, pressed and repaired clothes. She also found an advertisement for Sluyter & Dykema that appeared in the Zeeland Record in June 1908.
In other developments with the Frank’s restoration, Vander Zwaag said that the restaurant has purchased a new hood that will be needed for the grill to resume operations.
“A hood is critical for a restaurant. We cannot operate without a hood. We cannot (cook) burgers and fries without a hood,” Vander Zwaag said. “We just signed on the hood (last) Thursday after we met with Dan Vos, who approved all the mechanical plans.”
“The original hood was in the basement. That was a downdraft, and they think it was installed right after World War II,” Vander Zwaag added. “This is a long time coming.”
The city must approve permits for the mechanical work to take place, Vander Zwaag said.
Also in the works is a pass-through window that will be carved out of the brick on the east wall, connecting the main Frank’s location and Frank’s East, Vander Zwaag said.
“Those are not new proposals. That had been proposed in 2013 when Frank’s East was redone, but it never happened,” she said. “It’s a big undertaking, but we might as well do it now (while the restoration is taking place.”
Frank’s East continues to remain in operation with a limited menu. Updates are posted regularly on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Compassionate Heart Ministries Celebrates 20th Anniversary
The Zeeland Fire Department sprayed water on Compassionate Heart Ministries participants and volunteers during the organization’s Summer Day Camp last month. About 53 young people with disabilities participated in the camp.
Photo courtesy Compassionate Heart Ministries
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A Zeeland-based ministry dedicated to providing community for teens and young adults with mild to moderate disabilities will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this month.
Compassionate Heart Ministries will hold its annual Friends of the Heart gala celebration Sept. 24 at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville. Doors to the event open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and the program starting at 6:30 p.m.
“We could not do what we do without the community’s support, and we just want to invite them to celebrate all the good (we’ve done) with us,” founder and executive director Donna Bunce said.
Bunce started Compassionate Heart at the City on a Hill ministry center in the mid-2000s because she saw a need in West Michigan for programs for young people with disabilities. She saw the need through the eyes of her son, Jacob, who is cognitively impaired with autism.
Today, Compassionate Heart serves about 300 families, with some participants coming to Zeeland from as far away as Grand Rapids. Its slogan is “Make Friends, Have Fun, Love Jesus.”
After 10 years at City on a Hill, the ministry moved to its current location at 404 Centerstone Ct. in April 2016, and has remained there ever since.
Compassionate Heart offers two different programs to its participants – the Donut Club, a structured daytime program that seeks to help young people develop life skills, social skills and relationship skills, and Club 404, an afternoon and evening program that provides more recreational and social activities. The Donut Club gets its name because donuts are served at the start of each day.
“It fills in that time of day where people either don’t have a job or they’re not in a school setting any longer,” Bunce said. “We start the morning with donuts and coffee and juice and apples … then and go into structured activity.”
Club 404 derives its name from Compassionate Heart’s address.
“That’s the thing that started us, the afterschool program,” Bunce said. “It’s that time when you let your hair down and have a good time with friends and just build relationships.”
This year’s gala will honor eight people who have participated in Compassionate Heart since its founding. They will receive the organization’s Shining Star Award, Bunce said.
“Every year, we honor a participant, a volunteer who really stands out … This year, the Shining Star recipients are those people who have been with us for all 20 years,” she said.
Bunce announced in June that she will be retiring from Compassionate Heart at the end of this year. A search for her successor is underway, she said.
People attending the Sept. 24 gala are encouraged to wear green as a tie to the ministry’s 20th anniversary.
“I wanted to capture what the 20 years have meant for me. When I Googled ‘what’s the 20-year anniversary color,’ it actually said emerald green,” Bunce said. “It (symbolizes) growth and renewal and energy.”
The deadline to purchase tickets for the Friends of the Heart gala is Sept. 10. For more information on the gala and to buy tickets, visit compheart.org/news-events online.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A Zeeland-based ministry dedicated to providing community for teens and young adults with mild to moderate disabilities will celebrate its 20th anniversary later this month.
Compassionate Heart Ministries will hold its annual Friends of the Heart gala celebration Sept. 24 at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville. Doors to the event open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and the program starting at 6:30 p.m.
“We could not do what we do without the community’s support, and we just want to invite them to celebrate all the good (we’ve done) with us,” founder and executive director Donna Bunce said.
Bunce started Compassionate Heart at the City on a Hill ministry center in the mid-2000s because she saw a need in West Michigan for programs for young people with disabilities. She saw the need through the eyes of her son, Jacob, who is cognitively impaired with autism.
Today, Compassionate Heart serves about 300 families, with some participants coming to Zeeland from as far away as Grand Rapids. Its slogan is “Make Friends, Have Fun, Love Jesus.”
After 10 years at City on a Hill, the ministry moved to its current location at 404 Centerstone Ct. in April 2016, and has remained there ever since.
Compassionate Heart offers two different programs to its participants – the Donut Club, a structured daytime program that seeks to help young people develop life skills, social skills and relationship skills, and Club 404, an afternoon and evening program that provides more recreational and social activities. The Donut Club gets its name because donuts are served at the start of each day.
“It fills in that time of day where people either don’t have a job or they’re not in a school setting any longer,” Bunce said. “We start the morning with donuts and coffee and juice and apples … then and go into structured activity.”
Club 404 derives its name from Compassionate Heart’s address.
“That’s the thing that started us, the afterschool program,” Bunce said. “It’s that time when you let your hair down and have a good time with friends and just build relationships.”
This year’s gala will honor eight people who have participated in Compassionate Heart since its founding. They will receive the organization’s Shining Star Award, Bunce said.
“Every year, we honor a participant, a volunteer who really stands out … This year, the Shining Star recipients are those people who have been with us for all 20 years,” she said.
Bunce announced in June that she will be retiring from Compassionate Heart at the end of this year. A search for her successor is underway, she said.
People attending the Sept. 24 gala are encouraged to wear green as a tie to the ministry’s 20th anniversary.
“I wanted to capture what the 20 years have meant for me. When I Googled ‘what’s the 20-year anniversary color,’ it actually said emerald green,” Bunce said. “It (symbolizes) growth and renewal and energy.”
The deadline to purchase tickets for the Friends of the Heart gala is Sept. 10. For more information on the gala and to buy tickets, visit compheart.org/news-events online.
