Construction on $3 Million Drug Mart Plaza Facelift to Begin Soon

One large, aging city block along Detroit Avenue is about to look a whole lot different.

The plans have been approved, agreements signed. Within the next couple weeks, construction is expected to begin on a $3 million facelift to Lakewood Plaza — better known as the Drug Mart Plaza.

The Detroit Avenue location has also attracted a big-name tenant, when last week Quaker Steak and Lube signed a lease to open a 5,500-square-foot restaurant in east end of the renovated plaza.

is expected to sign its lease next week. According to the plans, the store will expand it size by 30 percent, moving into some of the space formerly occupied by the Sakura Japanese Restaurant.

The store will be an anchor tenant in the plaza, which also houses which also houses , and RadioShack.

So far, only RadioShack has committed to staying.

The plans have been a couple years in the making.

Last year, developer Giltz and Associates presented the city its architectural blueprint. The city’s Architectural Board of Review made a few changes to better suit the plaza’s location — sandwiched between Lakewood landmarks.

“The idea was to update it from its 1960s look that is today,” said Dru Siley, the city’s assistant director of planning and development. 

“Any new development in the city is going to have highest-quality designs. It’s not just the front of the building — it’s all four sides.”

The new façade will be made of brick, with a precast concrete and glass tower — tentatively planned to be built in the center of the plaza.

The angled parking lot in the front of the building on Detroit Avenue is making way for a 17-foot-wide public sidewalk — complete with landscaping.

The rear parking lot — in addition to getting a fresh layer of pavement — will also have some changes. The spots will switch from east/west to north/south to allow easier access.

“It’s finally happening,” said Emily Larson, the spokeswoman for Discount Drug Mart. “The fact that we have two stores in Lakewood — with one of them being remodeled — we are very excited that this is happening.”

Interior renovations may also be in the works. With more traffic, Larson said there could be a boost in the number of employee positions at the store.

“We want to have a bigger presence in Lakewood,” she said. “We want to be a part of Lakewood.”