Grow Interactive has developed an impressive body of work for an impressive list of national clients, and yet it has remained local. They have just announced that come June they will be moving from Ghent to Downtown into the nearly-century old 427 Granby Street building. We sat down with president Drew Ungvarsky and got the inside scoop.

Drew Ungvarsky in a screenshot of a Grow Interactive promo: http://thankyou.thisisgrow.com/

AltDaily: We were very excited to learn last week that your company, Grow Interactive, will be taking over the beautiful and historic 427 Granby Street. What inspired you to move your company from Ghent to Downtown?

Drew Ungvarsky: We’re moving Downtown because we recognize the importance of being a force for the things you want to see happen around you. We want a vibrant city with thriving creative industry, so we’re going to stick ourselves right in the middle of it to help it become just that.

If you’re unfamiliar, 427 Granby St is the three-story building next to the Granby Theater. It was originally built around 1917, and we’re doing a historic renovation to restore it to its original beauty. Downtown Norfolk is the only place can you find spaces with this type of character and potential.

For a time that building was going to become the 24sevencities headquarters. There were a lot of green elements in that plan, including a green roof/rooftop garden. Are you planning on developing the green roof/rooftop garden and the other green elements?

We’re still doing the partial green roof / rooftop garden on the extending portion of the first floor, and it’s one of the things we’re most excited about. It’ll give us a great space to have lunch or to bring our laptops outside to work. Needless to say, our office dogs will love it, too. Elsewhere in the building, we’re still working out final details, but we’re aiming to be environmentally responsible throughout.

For those that don’t know Grow, tell us a little bit about what you guys do.

We’re an interactive advertising company. We create high-end websites and other marketing initiatives for brands looking to thrive in the digital space. We do work both direct-to-client and in partnership with top advertising agencies around the world. Our website, www.thisisgrow.com, is definitely the place to see more of what we do and for whom we do it.

A shot of 427 Granby taken in 1915.

Obviously Downtown has gone through a lot of changes over the years. Is Granby a place you would have considered moving ten years ago? Five years ago?

Actually, almost five years ago, we were downtown and we loved being there. We had an office in the 100 block of Granby St. near Hell’s Kitchen, but we outgrew the space and have been in Ghent for the past three years. We’re definitely excited to return.

What do you feel like Downtown’s reputation is right now? Where do you think that reputation will be in five years?

People recognize Downtown for its strengths like its great restaurants and bars, but they’re anxious (as I am) to see it become much more than that. At the moment, road construction is a hot topic, but I for one am happy to see it. Don’t get me wrong, I recognize the impact construction has had on businesses, and I’d love to get where I’m going a few minutes faster, but it’s the price of progress. We’re getting new public transportation, high-rises, hotels, condos and apartments among other things. Those things are well worth the short-term inconveniences.

427 Granby has some killer display windows, and you employ some of the best artists and artistic minds in the area, if not the country. We’re expecting great things. Consider the gauntlet dropped.

Consider that challenge accepted. I won’t spoil all of the surprises, but we’ve got plans for some art installation work that I’m very excited about. We’ll put that storefront to good use. We’re also creating our space to be friendly to events and presentations, again with the idea of helping build the creative culture of the area.

When I walk down Granby Street it’s like seeing a beautiful smile with a bunch of missing teeth. Grow is, to continue the simile, adding a pearly white tooth to one of the gaps, and that’s great. But what about the rest? What kind of businesses would you like to see take over the other empty storefronts on Granby Street? What is needed to entice them?

I’m certainly part of the group who’d like to see more mixed use and retail Downtown, but I think the most important thing is just as you’ve implied: filling in the gaps. Vacancy will breed more vacancy, so everyone’s got to start looking at things differently.

Landlords and realtors need to be more aggressive and more flexible than ever for the sake of better occupancy rates. They can’t sit on empty buildings waiting for 5- and 10-year leases at maximum rental rates.

The city and HRT need to get the NET extended to Ghent and ideally to ODU, and they need to run it more frequently like they do during peak hours. I’d also like to see the city better recognize the importance of small businesses, too. In parking, for example, only companies who occupy 50 parking spots or more see any sort of discount on monthly passes, so none but the largest businesses are rewarded for bringing employees and customers Downtown on a daily basis.

Businesses need to stay open during the weekends, especially lunch spots. Sure, foot traffic is low on the weekends, but it’s a vicious cycle if consumers don’t have anywhere to go.

Last, and maybe most importantly, everyone reading this needs to support the things they want to see more of. Patronize the restaurants you love. Attend the events that excite you. Get involved with one of the many groups that help make things happen. If you’re not part of the solution you’re part of the problem.

The facade of 427 Granby being torn off last summer.

Downtown has a reputation for not being parking-friendly. Where will your employees park?

Most of us will park at the York St. garage or at the Harrison Opera house and ride the NET a few blocks in. Several of us live within biking distance and expect to ride in often. We’re also going to keep several office bikes for employees to use as needed throughout the day.

As an artistic/hipster type myself, I can attest that there aren’t a large number of businesses Downtown that I feel cater to me. There’s Empire, Alatte and… that’s kind of it. I’m hoping that Grow spearheads a minor seachange Downtown. An artistification, if you will. Thoughts?

We’re happy to help lead that, and it’s worth noting that we’re not doing it alone. There are some really great people in this city who “get it”, many of whom are part of the RE:Vision Norfolk group often discussed on AltDaily. The DNC, the DNCL, and other groups are all also working on great efforts of their own, and collectively we can all help effect a great change in Downtown.

You’ve been able to be highly successful on a national scale in a region not known for technology or the arts. As Herman Blume asked Max Fischer, What’s the secret, Max?

Surround yourself with the most talented and driven people you can find, and make sure everyone’s working towards the company’s goals. I don’t have any great secret, nor have I ever hired anyone who shared one. We know what we want to accomplish, and we work hard every day to make it happen.

We also make a conscious effort to think bigger than ourselves, and it’s paid off time and again. The companies I’ve seen who treat competition like the enemy are missing the bigger picture. When you contribute your time and resources to the community and the industry surrounding you, you’re helping to create the network that’s ultimately critical to your own success.

Did I miss anything that you’d like to mention?

Can I plug some things? First, we’re hiring several positions(http://www.thisisgrow.com/careers#/careers). Second, if you’re interested in advertising at all, you should come out to AIGA’s screening of Art & Copy on February 17th at the Naro (http://www.aigahamptonroads.org/events/73). And last, I’m speaking in Richmond on the 11th, so if you want to find out more about how we do what we do, you’re invited (http://richmond.aiga.org/events/2010/02/37835669).