Small Business

Automation Alley and Oakland U launch training center

A training center designed to improve the talent pool for small- to medium-sized manufacturers in Michigan is opening at Oakland University's business incubator. The Automation Alley Product Lifecycle Management Center is a partnership between Automation Alley, Michigan's largest technology business association; Siemens;  the Michigan Economic Development Corp.; Geometric Solutions; solidThinking Inc.; and Oakland U's School of Engineering and Computer Science. The Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Center will offer affordable training and PLM certification and training using traditional, mainstream and new technologies in computer aided design, engineering, manufacturing and other PLM skills such as digital factory simulation and 3-D scanning and printing. Product Lifecycle Management is the process of seeing a product through from concept and design to manufacture, service and disposal. Knowledge and technologies in PLM can bring a company's processes up to date and prepare them for the future as well as increase efficiency, quality and profits by bringing products to market faster. Besides training and certification, the new management center will help companies move from traditional design and manufacturing methods to the latest digital processes. The center is located at One Golfview Lane in Rochester. "In recent years, we've received a lot of feedback from the local manufacturing industry that they are desperately in need of employees trained in PLM. In many cases, they've had to look outside of Michigan to find these employees. Now, with the creation of this center, they will be able to find these employees right here in Southeast Michigan. So what we are creating is a talent pipeline that will ultimately lead to the creation of new jobs, but we can't say exactly how many jobs will be created or at what time," says Erin Sommerville, spokesperson for Automation Alley. "Ultimately, our hope is that Southeast Michigan will become known as a center of excellence for PLM, which would attract both companies and talent." Source: Erin Sommerville, spokesperson, Automation Alley Writer: Kim North Shine

Mad Hatter brings tea and more to downtown Birmingham

The Mad Hatter Cafe is bringing high tea and a bistro and bakery to downtown Birmingham. The husband-and-wife-owned business is scheduled to open this spring at 185 N. Old Woodward, across from the Palladium movie theater. Besides high tea, a bistro for lunch and dinner, and indoor and outdoor seating, the Mad Hatter expects to fill a need for food takeout and offer event space. The Mad Hatter is moving into a space previously occupied by a Quizno's sandwich shop. Source: Edward Nakfoor, public relations, Birmingham Principal Shopping District Writer: Kim North Shine

Paper Street expands its co-working space in Ferndale

Paper Street, a work and meeting space for Do It Yourselfers, artists and entrepreneurs, is reopened after renovations and expansion. The office at 840 E. Lewiston originally opened in 2010 and added to its co-working space in late 2013. Owner Andy Didorosi says Paper Street's mission is to make it easier to grow and start a business. New co-working and private offices have opened and for are for rent, which includes 24-hour access, wi-fi, coffee, printing and networking to "a community of doers, builders, thinkers and makers," says Didorosi. Paper Street also has industrial spaces for rent as well as a studio for photo shoots, and offers classes on design, tech entrepreneurship and art. Source: Andy Didorosi, owner, Paper Street Writer: Kim North Shine

Metro Restyling adds industrial facility in Sterling Heights

Metro Restyling, a supplier of custom lighting and vinyl, is adding a 13,500-square-foot industrial facility to the online business that caters to custom car enthusiasts. The new building is located 5400 Eighteen Mile Road in Sterling Heights, and is a mile away from its existing facility. Besides its online and telephone sales, metrorestyling.com is an online community and idea source for customizers. Source: Jason Capitani, broker, L. Mason Capitani, Corfac International Writer: Kim North Shine

Cigar smokers find space at Socialight in W. Bloomfield

Big space, big chefs, big design behind Bistro 82 and Sabrage lounge

One of metro Detroit's most anticipated restaurants, Bistro 82, opened this week in downtown Royal Oak, and besides serving unforgettable food the plan is to "change the dining scene in this area." Scott Sadoff, director of operations for the AFB Hospitality Group, is overseeing Bistro 82, which opened Feb. 11 at 4th Street and South Lafayette in the former Sangria tapas bar and salsa dance club. The renovation transformed the two-story, 10,000-square-foot building into a contemporary and luxurious space with clean lines and an open floor plan that has Bistro 82 on the main floor. Upstairs is Sabrage, a high-end lounge and night club where a DJ will play above a fish tank while champagne is served from a tap behind an onyx bar. Sabrage's first day of business is Valentine's Day. It will be open on Friday and Saturday nights. The overall vision for the new business belongs to Aaron Fenkell Belen, the developer of the property and president of AFB Hospitality Group. "What we're doing is trying to make our place a one-stop shop and capture our guests for their nights out," says Sadoff, who says guests may want a pre-dinner cocktail or a reserved table upstairs at Sabrage for post-dinner time. The bigger picture of Bistro 82 and Sabrage is "to change the dining scene in this area. Dining should be for the guests, not just to go out to eat, but to have an experience," he says. "Every establishment around us is here for a reason, and many of them are very good at what they do," he says. "What we never want to become or never will become is stagnant. We don't want to get complacent. We want to try and up our game every single day." Bistro 82 is French-inspired except for the intentionally roomy interior design. "It's not a bistro setting that normally has tables closer together. We wanted our bistro to be easily maneuverable, with generous walkways and to be luxurious," he says. "We want our guests to be comfortable and well taken care of." n important part of the customer care-taking, he says, is hiring a large staff -- sauciers, dishwashers, security staff, drink runners, managers, bartenders, etc.  who are known for their high performance and experience at top restaurants. Sadoff most recently worked for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants as manager of Ocean Prime and before that as manager of  P.F. Chang's. Derik Watson is the leader of Bistro 82's kitchen and the designer of the menu, which includes a West and East Coast selection of oysters, pork belly and ratatouille and several other appetizers, Waygu hanger steak, beef short rib, sea scallops, Scottish Salmon, chicken Paillard and other entrees, and dessert choices such as yogurt panna cotta, dark chocolate tart and cinnamon sugar beignets. Watson brings with him experience from restaurants around the country, many in metro Detroit such as Rugby Grill in Birmingham and Tribute in Farmington Hills, where he worked under the tutelage of iconic chef Takashi Yagihashi at Tribute and in Chicago. Running Bistro 82 and Sabrage will require more than 100 employees, nearly half full-time. The restaurant can seat 162 guests. Sabrage has room for about 225 guests. Source: Scott Sadoff, director of operations, AFB Hospitality Group, and Justin Near, president, Near Perfect Media Writer: Kim North Shine

32 new businesses launched in downtown Ferndale in 2013

Downtown Ferndale grew in new businesses and in many other economic ways in 2013. Two major investments were made in the downtown infrastructure: the rebuild of West Nine Mile Road, and a new parking meter system meant to make a visit to downtown easier and visitor stays longer. According to the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority, 32 new businesses opened, including Dynasty Media Network, C! Tech Solutions, Schramm's Meadery, the Public House restaurant and Shine On Yoga. Other established businesses such as Treat Dreams , Modern Natural Baby, Painting with A Twist and Boston Tea Room expanded their spaces or products or moved into larger space as the local economy continued looking up in 2013. In all, 2013 saw some $5 million in private and public investment and 300 new jobs, says Ferndale DDA executive director Cristina Sheppard-Decius. Ferndale's downtown is made up of about 350 businesses across 3.9 linear miles centered around Woodward and 9 Mile. “Entrepreneurs are investing in the district in big and small ways,” said Sheppard-Decius. “Whether they grow in place or add a second business, make interior improvements or exterior changes, they are committed to downtown Ferndale.   Their commitment, coupled with that of our public officials who are committed to making significant infrastructure improvements, creates a synergy that attracts new investors, new businesses.  It is a formula for growth – and it is working in downtown Ferndale.” Source: Chris Hughes and Cristina Sheppard-Decius, Ferndale Downtown Development Authority Writer: Kim North Shine

$250,000 prize lets Robot Garage expand its kid engineer biz

The Robot Garage in Birmingham is the winner of a $250,000 prize that will give the company owners the financial boost needed to expand staff and programming and put finishing touches on a renovated classroom space as they try to reach more kids -- and adults -- looking to use their brains, hands and free time building Legos, robots and engineering minds. The prize comes from Chase Bank's Mission Main Streets Grants program. The Robot Garage, which opened in 2012 in Birmingham's burgeoning Rail District, was one of two metro Detroit businesses in the group of 12 winners from across the country. The other metro Detroit winning company was Edibles Rex, which provides healthy, fresh foods to schools, day care businesses, and other places that feed children. It's an amount of money that can transform a small business forever. It's the intent of the contest to provide small businesses with cash infusions to help them do things that might not be affordable for years to come, if ever. "This will do so much to turn still-unrealized dreams into a reality," says Robot Garage co-founder and co-owner Sarah Jacobs. Source: Chase Mission Main Streets and Robot Garage Writer: Kim North Shine

Love of Mediterranean eats stokes expansion of Park Grill

Adi Kokoshi and his family have cooked their way out of the original spot where they started the Park Grill Mediterranean in Grosse Pointe Park in 2009 and into a restaurant that's nearly twice the size, has an expanded menu and for the first time a liquor license and large outdoor seating area. It could all bring more success to the Albanian immigrants who have found so many takers of their favorite dishes. Renovations started in July on an expansion into a neighboring storefront, taking it from 1,000 to 1,800 square feet with seating for 62 instead of 40. A 17-foot L-shaped bar will seat 17 and an outdoor seating area will have room for 20-25. Opening day could come in late February or early March, says Park Grill general manager Brian Czerny. The Grill takes up a corner location in the buzzing business district called The Park. It's where 1920s- and 1930s-era facades house long-established businesses such as the Rustic Cabins bar, Antonio's Restaurant, a dry cleaner, a pet store, a hardware store, a party store and offices that are now part of a mini development boom that's added  The Red Crown restaurant, Atwater Brewery, which will open in April, the Cabbage Patch Cafe and a soon-to-be announced taco bar, to the mix of businesses. The menu that locals love, one influenced by cooking from Albania, Greece and the Balkans, will remain but with additions, says Czerny. New entrees and steak and fish dishes will be served, and a "unique appetizer menu" will be available during meal service and also late into the night, he says.  There will be four draft beers on tap, 22 bottled beers and a specialty cocktail menu. In the spring, "an endless mimosa and bloody Mary bar" will go with brunch and lunch, Czerny says. "We hope to create a warm, relaxed, neighborhood-type atmosphere that works for just about everybody, whether it be lunch during the week, dinner with the family, date night with a spouse, or just hanging out with friends," Czerny says. Source: Brian Czerny, general manager, Park Grill LLC Writer: Kim North Shine