Trowbridge Plaza — Local services in East Lansing

I wish I could leave a positive review of this area, especially since I have deep-rooted ties to East Lansing and its businesses. I fondly remember visiting Goodrich's Shop Rite with my grandparents weekly and regularly shop at Fresh Thyme myself. I love Blueowl and Ding Tea is one of the best shops in the area, unfortunately, due to a recent experience, I can no longer support these businesses. I was planning on going grocery shopping at Fresh Thyme after going to an hour long class, it was a Tuesday afternoon so there were plenty of parking spots, and an hour is not an excessive amount of time to leave your car parked. When I get back my car was towed. While I appreciate that some Fresh Thyme employees were helpful, the manager I spoke with was dismissive. He refused to tell me who might have towed my car and seemed annoyed that I wasn’t aware of the towing company this particular lot uses. His lack of assistance only added to my frustration.( I do not know if he called specifically or if it was the owner of the lot the manager said he was not at liberty of saying, but either way he was rude and unhelpful) I had to pay $326 (not including cab fare) just to retrieve my vehicle. This experience feels particularly targeted, as I have parked here multiple times and gone to class before going shopping without incident, often in a newer model car. It seems like students, who primarily support many of these businesses, are being unfairly penalized. Additionally, I want to highlight a concern beyond the towing issue: if your car gets scratched by another driver while you’re shopping, it can be incredibly challenging to locate the owner. This isn’t just a student issue; it affects everyone who parks there.

Save your time, car value and money and support other businesses in East Lansing who actually prioritize their customers' experiences and...

The plaza itself needs some work. Poorly designed; the main intersection seems to have constant near collisions. A lot of extra curb to create "flow patterns" that people ignore. And speed humps placed to stop you hitting pedestrians in front of stores, but not to stop reckless drivers whipping into the parking lot. The West end is a giant mess and needs to be gutted. They pack these businesses in but whatever civil engineer did the...

Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market supplies an abundant variety of garden vegetables and herbs. Vibrant, fresh appearing meats and seafood are available. They have a selection of house made sausages that would entice most people, especially the chicken, spinach and feta cheese sausage. Everything from berries, broccoli to beans; this market seems to provide fresh quality products at an...