Small Business

Painting With a Twist opens second location in downtown Farmington

By Newsroom

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August 23, 2012

The attraction of painting over a glass of wine has proven so strong that one metro Detroit business, Painting with a Twist, is thriving at a second location. Owner Michelle Lewis has added a downtown Farmington location at 33033 Grand River Ave. Her first was in Ferndale at 320 W. 9 Mile. Annette Knowles, executive director of the Farmington Downtown Development Authority, says "it's a fantastic business" and part of several changes lighting up downtown Farmington's Grand River Avenue. "Michelle Lewis is a very sharp woman," she says. "What she's done is bring a business that's serving as a destination, something we all would like to have." Painting with a Twist pairs groups - or individuals - with an artist who teaches them how to work with a brush. Often parties are held that have the students sipping on beverages they bring. Everyone leaves with a canvas of their own creation. Source: Annette Knowles, executive director, Farmington DDA Writer: Kim North Shine

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Grosse Pointe loses a creperie, gains a bakery – and more

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Arts & Culture

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August 16, 2012

What Crepe, the creperie that had planned to add a Grosse Pointe location, has scrapped that plan, but the vacant space on Kercheval in The Village shopping district has already been spoken for. In its space is going Sweet Little Sheila's Pastry and Crepe Cafe, an offshoot of Side Street Diner, a restaurant around the corner from where the pastry shop will go. Renovations are going on now. Co-owner Sheila Taylor is known for her cakes, brownies and other desserts. It's one of several changes coming to The Village this fall. A few doors down from the soon-to-be Sheila's, the Grosse Pointe Art Center, a gallery and gift shop that regularly draws crowds to its openings and special events, has relocated from a spot down the road. The corner spot gives the art center a more visible presence with windows on two sides. In the same block of the Village the restaurant and bar, City Kitchen, is expanding into the art center's old space, capitalizing on locals interest in the bar area, which currently is often to capacity. The new bar will have pub tables, a larger bar to satisfy customers' desires to eat and socialize at the bar rather than in the dining room. Still unspoken for is the largest vacancy in the Village, the former Border's bookstore. Source: City of Grosse Pointe Writer: Kim North Shine

Farmington’s DDA purchases restaurant to provide development opportunity

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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August 16, 2012

The closing of one of Farmington's long-established restaurants is being seen as an opportunity to shape the development of the city's downtown as it moves through a resurgence. Annette Knowles, executive director of the Farmington DDA, says the DDA decided to purchase the parcel that includes Dimitri's restaurant, 33200 Grand River, as a way to control what comes to the stretch of road that is downtown Farmington's Main Street. The cost: $430,000 to be paid back to the City of Farmington, which approved a loan to the DDA earlier this month. "The DDA does have an interest in bringing something to downtown that will really add to the energy and excitement that's going on here," said Annettesaid. "We are looking to kick it up a notch…We are looking to attract a restaurant or redevelopment project that will really contribute to the progress being made." Now the DDA is entertaining potential buyers, and Knowles is holding open houses for the spot "so people can come through casually, without pressure. One open house was Aug. 14. The next is Monday, Aug. 20, from noon to 2. "Interest has been pretty brisk," Knowles said. "We have had numerous folks come who are interested in the restaurant component…We're still debating and discussing the options and opportunities." The proactive development approach gives the DDA and city officials control over a crucial spot of downtown, one that is across the street from a city park and pavilion that hosts summer concerts and events throughout the year. "It does have a good location in a central part of downtown that's accessible and walkable," Knowles says. The restaurant is 3,000 square feet, she says, and "there's room for expansion. The building could be re-used or demolished, depending on the proposals that come in. What's known for sure is that a parking lot will be added behind the building, part of a larger plan to improve parking options downtown, Knowles said. "The bigger picture is there are a lot of redevelopment opportunities here," she said. "This is one we where we hope to start a major trend of investment in our community." Source: Annette Knowles, executive director, Farmington Downtown Development Authority Writer: Kim North Shine

Metro Detroit software developers launch firm, Ambr Detroit

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Entrepreneurship

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August 9, 2012

The entrepreneurial duo that brought you flipfrog has launched its own custom application business, Ambr Detroit. "We're a web start-up that uses web standards to create awesome things," says Anthony Montalbano, co-founder of Ambr Detroit. Montalbano and Brian Ritter started the company three months ago, creating custom mobile and Internet applications for businesses. The pair left their day jobs (software developers for Domino's) a year ago to launch flipfrog, a mobile app that allows users to share their calendars. The friends are still working on growing flipfrog but are also looking to stretch their entrepreneurial legs a bit more with Ambr Detroit. "We want to have the flexibility to do what we want," Montalbano says. "We want to be in control of what we're doing. We have very high web standards." The pair are currently working virtually from their homes in Rochester and Ann Arbor for now. Montalbano says they are currently looking to set up their first office in Detroit. Ambr Detroit has been so busy from the get-go that they are seeking a software developer now and want to grow to a staff of as many as half a dozen within its first year of operation. The partners are also open to striking up partnerships with clients who have a promising idea for a mobile or web app. "If a good idea comes along we will offer a reduced rate for equity," Montalbano says. "That has already happened once." Source: Anthony Montalbano, co-founder of Ambr Detroit Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Bring your business ideas to I-Hub

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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August 9, 2012

Entrepreneurs needing an outlet to share idea and make business connections can give their neighbors, friends and family a rest and consider using the Idea Hub at the Velocity business incubator in Sterling Heights. Idea Hub, or I-Hub, is a project of the Macomb-OU INCubator and is meant to be a place not only to exchange business ideas, perspectives, but also for resources such as a monthly meeting spot, a mailing address for start-ups and wi-fi hot spot. A $95 monthly membership or $10 daily fee gets members access to the services that Julie Gustafson, executive director of the INCubator says, a way to connect to the entrepreneurial community and possibly launch a business. "A lot of startups often do business in coffee shops; the I-Hub provides the perfect alternative and so much more," says Gustafson. "We envision that in many cases it will also become a stepping stone for full incubation services." The I-Hub is located in the Velocity building at 6633 Eighteen Mile Road, the same location as the INCubator that is a collaboration between Oakland University and Macomb County and provides development and support services to startups and emerging businesses in the areas of defense, homeland security, advanced manufacturing and technology sectors. Source: Julie Gustafson, executive director, Macomb-OU INCubator Writer: Kim North Shine

Woodward Warehouse capitalizes on auto love

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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August 2, 2012

Metro Detroit's car culture is driving the creation of the Woodward Warehouse in Royal Oak, a place for car enthusiasts and their cars to come together and more. Woodward Warehouse, at 4260 Edgeland in Royal Oak near Coolidge and Normandy, is the brainchild of Joe and Blenda Polito, husband and wife car lovers turned entrepreneurs. Their concept of offering car storage in "museum quality, heated, air conditioned, climate controlled" storage facility along with car care services and a social club is a local take on similar clubs on the east and west coasts, says Polito, a retired attorney who owns at least 11 classic cars. The Warehouse, named after Woodward Avenue, a national historic scenic byway that's taken over annually each August by classic cars, opened June 23, "It's taken a lot of effort, time and money...we're starting to get some traction," he says. Besides having 11,000 square feet of storage space for 45-55 vehicles to be stored under nearly 20 security cameras, Woodward Warehouse offers club membership that includes a 3,000-square-foot clubroom with a game room with regulation pool table and vintage pinball machine, a large screen TV, a kitchen, a an patio with grills, game a cigar smoking room, meeting rooms and conference rooms that can be rented. They are considering setting up a model train room. Polito also has found reputable contractors to provide services such as detailing. One thing that makes Woodward Warehouse different is getting access to cars anytime. "It's a great place to spend time with like-minded people," he says, "people who love and know cars." Source: Joe Polito, owner, Woodward Warehouse Writer: Kim North Shine

Found Sound in Ferndale finds market for vinyl records in digital age

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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August 2, 2012

Found Sound, a new record store at 234 W. 9 Mile in downtown Ferndale, is finding nostalgia and a craving for the listening quality of vinyl and is attracting a loyal customer base. The store, opened July 21 on 9 Mile near Woodward, is run by two record store veterans from Recordtime in Roseville. They know of what they speak of when it comes to vinyl's rise, demise and resurrection. Found Sound stocks new and used records and special orders them. It will also host concerts twice a month and show music-related movies. Ferndale was chosen as the business location for Found Sound because of "what you might call a counterculture, an art-based culture," says Found Sound manager Ray Hayosh. "The first day was great. We had people waiting at the door, he says. "I saw this building and thought it is the best location in metro Detroit for a record store. Besides the culture here, we're close enough to the city to get the city traffic and close enough to upper suburbs to get their traffic." He says the customers are a mix in age, interest and level of knowledge. "There are enough collectors to make it a niche store, but we have a lot of people who just enjoy music. They're not obsessive fanatics, they're just casual listeners," he says. And they're not necessarily mostly customers who knew and miss playing records. "There's a big interest in vinyl with teens. Theres' a pretty big nostalgia factor to it..Even if only their parents listened to the records, they want to know more about it," he says. "For some it's the actual listening…People talk about a warmth to vinyl..The digital just has a very cold kind of feeling…with analog there's a much more inviting feeling. For some it's not the sound but the aesthetics of vinyl records. They can display them on a shelf and share them with people." The comeback of vinyl records has been helped by the availability of portable turntables and the business of independent labels that continued pressing records that major labels wanted only in digital format. Some bands, such as Pearl Jam, never stopped putting out vinyl records, he says. "Now major labels are re-releasing everything under the sun," he says, "and there's a lot of stuff that's available in vinyl." It may not be high-tech, he says, but it's still a fascinating thing how records play music. "What's bizarre to me is the idea of a record needle reading a groove, he says. "It's crazy it's been over 100 years and it's still such an amazing thing." Source: Ray Hayosh, manager, Found Sound Writer: Kim North Shine

Food trucks rolling into Dearborn

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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July 19, 2012

Dearborn is jumping on the food truck bandwagon by hosting rallies that will give locals - and visitors - of taste of several rolling restaurants and also serve as a test case for how food trucks interact with nearby businesses. The first Dearborn Food Truck Rally, sponsored by Westborn Market, will be held from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. this Friday city's Parking Lot C behind PizzaPapalis, 22022 Michigan Ave., west of Monroe. It is the first of three food truck rallies planned for this summer, the second coming Aug. 24 in the parking lot between the West Village parking decks and the third on Sept. 21 in the city lot behind the Double Olive. The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, the city of Dearborn and the West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority are partnering with the Michigan Mobile Food Vendors Association, which put out the word about Dearborn's interest in food trucks and rounded up eight to 10 operators: Frank's Anatra, Concrete Cuisine, Treat Dreams, Ned's, Mack Shack, El Guappo, PPC and Jacques Tacos. Live music will be a part of the event and nearby businesses may try to capitalize on the activity. Economic development officials are hoping businesses will participate by offering specials, events and sales. Food trucks are at the center of a debate over whether they help or hurt brick-and-mortar businesses, whether they're unfair competition and whether they should be more heavily regulated for food safety and business taxes. Portland, OR, a city known for its vibrant food truck culture, ran an impact study several years ago that demonstrated how the mobile eateries had mostly positive effects on the neighborhoods they were in, and aside for parking issues, local businesses saw the food carts as a good way to increase street activity. "We think this will be an exciting and unique way to bring families downtown on Friday evenings for food, fun and entertainment,” Jennifer Giering, president of the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, says in a statement. “These community events have a tremendous economic impact on surrounding businesses with the first event in Ferndale attracting 1,500 people, many of which patronized local bars and restaurants after the event.” Source: Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce Writer: Kim North Shine

Michigan-flavored restaurant opens in downtown Mount Clemens

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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June 28, 2012

One family's devotion to Michigan and their appreciation of the state's food, history, and style has led to the opening of The Mitt in downtown Mount Clemens. Ken and Tracy Leonard decided to open the restaurant at 143 N. Main Street to pay homage "to all the great things about this beautiful state," he says. For about four weeks now the restaurant has been in soft opening mode, preparing for a full-scale operations. The Mitt got an unexpected publicity boost when Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stopped in while on the campaign trail. The Leonards, who have a history of running restaurants, lived in California until 14 years ago after deciding to come back to Michigan raise kids and contribute to the state's economy. "I was born in raised in Michigan. I really thought that Michigan gets a bad rap. I think it's a great state and we need to get that out there. This is about a sense of pride in our home state," Leonard says. The Mitt, a bar, restaurant and pizzeria serving under the "From Michigan For Michigan" motto, is decorated in a Michigan motif - think Up North rustic cabin - and serves Michigan comfort food that's 100 percent homemade and 95 percent all Michigan products," Leonard says. He or someone from the staff shop at Eastern Market weekly and work with companies that provide Michigan products. Besides comfort food that Leonard says is made fresh "the freezer is seldom used," the interior is something to take in: Michigan artists' artwork line the walls and a mural of the Mackinac Bridge spans the length of the restaurant. The opening has created 35 full-time jobs and Leonard is in the process of hiring more as crowd demands have some employees working overtime, he says. Opening The Mitt is both a shout out to his birthplace and a call to families who want affordable, good, fresh food," he says. "A lot of of people chose to pack their bags and leave when times got tough for Michigan," he says. "We stuck it out. We stayed here for the hard times… We think the people that have stayed here did it for the same reason. They believe in Michigan." Source: Ken Leonard, owner/operator, The Mitt Restaurant and Bar Writer: Kim North Shine

Valentine Vodka tasting more success

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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June 14, 2012

The growth and change happening for homegrown Valentine Vodka - its motto is "Surprisingly smooth vodka from a city known for grit - is almost intoxicating for owner and founder Rifino Valentine. From a new patio that now features a Bloody Mary Sunday Brunch to a product expansion that's taken Valentine vodka into establishments across the state, into Illinois and most recently to Tennessee, there are big plans to get bigger and better. Big news for the craft vodka maker came this week when Tasting Panel, a respected industry publication, gave Valentine Vodka a 94 point rating. Grey Goose, by comparison, came in at 89. It follows a gold medal win at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in April. "All this stuff it's tremendously exciting. I couldn't ask for things to go any better," says Valentine, who left Wall Street with the mission of helping an ailing Michigan economic climate. "It's validating. Our goal was to help change the economic structure of this state and the city." He feels the three-and-a-half-year-old business is on the path to doing that, hiring three full-time employees plus himself and five part-timers and using ingredients from Michigan farmers and Michigan companies. He says the accolades and the growth that has Valentine becoming a regular name on restaurant and bar menus bodes well for Michigan. "The goal was to put out a product that can compete and beat the big fancy imported brands," says Rifino, whose distilling philosophy involves small batch production. The process can be seen at the tasting room/cocktail lounge that's inside a former billiards manufacturer at 161 Vester in Ferndale. The bar uses all natural ingredients in its cocktails, making some of them right the bar. A new custom-made still arrived earlier this year from Germany, where it was made not only to help Valentine Vodka keep up with demand but to carry it into new products, including whiskey and gin, Valentine says. The business, which has also received Best of honors from local publications such as Metro Times, has added its first flavored vodka to the lineup: elder flower. But there will be no rush to add more flavors. "My whole philosophy is to do a few things and do them well." The next big change that could come is a new or different location. "We're busting at the seams," he says. "We'll have to evaluate our next move in about a year." Source: Rifino Valentine, owner and founder, Valentine Vodka Writer: Kim North Shine