The Power of Local Investment: The Story Behind Phillips Orchards New Expansion
Written by Katie Goble, Digital Marketing Intern
When a family business has roots as deep as the Phillips family’s, stretching all the way back to 1852, it carries not only the legacy of a community but also the hopes its future. Phillips Orchards and Cider Mill, located along US 127 on the outskirts of St. Johns, has been a mainstay of agriculture and apple-growing in Michigan for over 170 years. Now, thanks to a helping hand from LEAP’s Small Town Enhancement Grant, they’ve been able to expand their vision while keeping the heartbeat of small-town charm alive in a nearby location: Maple Rapids.
Brian Phillips, the sixth generation to run the orchard, alongside his partner Gregg Smith, carries on a tradition that has been deeply rooted in community since its inception. The orchard has long been a place where locals remember picking apples with their families, working seasonal harvests in high school, and sharing memories that are never forgotten. It is a family business in every sense—connected to the land, to the community, and to the generations of families who have grown up alongside it. They knew that each expansion would have to create a gathering space for the community and contain the same level of care as the orchard has all these years.
Phillips Cider Bar & Market in Lansing
December of 2022 saw the opening of their first expansion in Frandor, ‘Phillips Cider Bar and Market,’ a place where you can find hard cider, unique pizzas, bakery items, and novelty gifts all in one place; but when the opportunity arose to purchase a shuttered pizzeria in Maple Rapids, it wasn’t just a good business decision—it felt like coming home. On February 6th, 2025, Phillips Cider Bar and Pizzeria opened its doors, giving the town of Maple Rapids something beautiful to gather around. The addition of a food and drink wasn’t just about expansion, as the pizzeria now stands as a welcoming space where families can reconnect over handcrafted cider and pizza made with love. According to Gregg, one of his favorite things about opening a location in a small town is the multi-generational atmosphere. “I get to serve three generations of the same family at one table, and watch as they make memories and laugh together. Nothing can top that.”
Turning a run-down, vacant building into a vibrant, community centerpiece took more than a vision. It took support from LEAP and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and specifically, the Small Town Enhancement Grant. This grant, designed to boost local economic growth and beautify public spaces, while also preserving the charm of small towns, gave Phillips and Smith the resources to do just that. With LEAP’s support, the team fully renovated the space: updating the roof, installing energy-efficient windows, replacing the HVAC system, adding new signage, and even fitting the interior with gas lanterns—an homage to Maple Rapids’ identity as the ‘Lamp Lighter City.’
“People deserve beauty no matter where they are,” says Gregg Smith. “Now you don’t have to drive a half an hour to go somewhere special to make memories.” LEAP’s funding and resources allowed the co-owners to focus on running the business itself, instead of worrying about the safety of their building or what was going to break first. We not only helped them transform a space to give back to their community, but we worked with them to create a solid foundation, so to speak, so that future generations can enjoy this space for years to come.
Beyond the space itself, this expansion has made a real difference in people’s lives. For the 45 full-time employees who are employed by Phillips Orchards, the pizzeria offers year-round job security, so their individual income does not end with the fall harvest. The synergy between the orchard and the pizzeria has also helped Phillips utilize more of their apple crop. Instead of discarding leftover apples or selling them to processors, they are transforming them into hard cider and other products. This creates a sustainable, full-circle model that supports both the farm and the community year-round.
Thanks to LEAP’s Small Town Enhancement Grant, Phillips Cider Bar and Pizzeria is more than a new location in Maple Rapids. It’s a symbol of revival. It shows what happens when public investment meets local passion: you get a space that inspires pride, encourages economic growth, and brings people together. “When people see something beautiful in their town, it makes the townspeople feel good about where they live,” Gregg reflects, “and they’re more likely to invest locally. It starts the process for revival.”
As for the future? The Phillips team is already looking toward new underserved towns to expand this model of agriculture-meets-community. At Phillips Orchards and Cider Mill, the harvest isn’t just about apples—it’s about growing places where memories are made and roots run deep.
If you are interested in learning more about LEAP and how we are helping communities big and small in the Lansing region, check out our website, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Written by Katie Goble, Digital Marketing Intern
Category: Community & Placemaking, Economic Development News, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Small Business