Plymouth : Development News

A Lansing-based credit union is expanding into southeast Michigan, first building a $30-million headquarters near Brighton and later investing in Plymouth.

Lake Trust Credit Union will invest more than $40 million in extending its network in Michigan over the next five years, says Lori Anderson, spokesperson for the credit union.

The headquarters near Brighton is on 17 acres near US 23 and I-96 and will give employees a campus with a pond, walking trails, picnic areas and a 100,000 sq. ft. workspace that brings together employees from Lansing and Plymouth.

Lake Trust formed from a 2010 merger between NuUnion Credit Union and Detroit Edison Credit Union.

Construction on the new headquarters, which is expected to cost $30 million, is scheduled for completion by 2015. At least another $10 million will go into other improvements, such as those in Plymouth and Lansing.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Lori Anderson, spokesperson, Lake Trust Credit Union

A growing market and interest in locally-sourced food, organic food and knowing where your food comes from has Garry Kuneman expanding his business, adding a new location and bringing new products to customers.

Kuneman, who worked the farmer's market circuit for 10 years, opened his Natural Food Local Express in Plymouth in July 2010. It didn't take him long to see that demand would lead to a second location.

The new store will open Dec. 1 at 6870 Telegraph Road. The company will take on a new name, Pure Pastures, with one location becoming Pure Pastures East and the other Pure Pastures West.

The name change is more of a reflection of the core business, says Kuneman. That is to sell meat, eggs and other products from Michigan farmers.

Except for air-chilled chicken, a European style of chicken preparation that's become popular since an endorsement from Dr. Mehmet Oz, and a portion of buffalo, another popular product, everything comes from Michigan. Local eggs that come from chickens that aren't caged and eat no soy or GMOs are a top seller. Kuneman will add more national products when he brings in more organic and gluten-free foods, he says.

Kuneman's start with farmers' markets and home deliveries are still a part of the operations. He plans to expand home delivery and product offerings and hire 3-4 new employees when the new store opens. Currently, there are four employees.

"The farmers markets helped me get a handle on the kind of products I wanted to carry. And it helped me build a customer base," he says. "There are several segments of the population we pull from: special diets, people who want to know what's in their food and some are concerned about the humane treatment of animals. It's a little pricier, but people are willing to pay to know what they're getting, to support Michigan."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Garry Kuneman, owner, Natural Food Local Express, the future Pure Pastures

The owner of Lola Ryan, a new home, accessories and women's clothing boutique in downtown Plymouth, is offering what she calls "pure fashion" to her customers.

Rachel Kus, a pharmaceutical rep who's long dreamed of dipping her to in the pond of retail fashion , wants to run a business that sells American products by American designers. Her husband Ryan Kus is part owner.

Rachel Kus' mother, the store manager, says it can be challenging to keep the All-American promise when American designers sell some things that are American made and others that are not, for example, but  they are working hard to stick to the philosophy, which also includes selling "affordable fashion" and offering personal shoppers and private showings for the "precocious teen to groovy matriarch" Lola Ryan seeks.

Lola Ryan opened about a month ago at 550 Forest Avenue. On its racks are designers such as Rachel Pally. Lola Ryan is the only place in Michigan to buy Pally's things. Hudson Jeans, typically found at Nordstrom, are on the racks too. James Pearse is another popular brand found at Lola Ryan.

Rachel Kus brought her fashion knowledge and dream of opening a boutique back from the East Coast after living there several years. A friend ran a boutique, and Kus learned how to get the skinny on fashion lines and retail by attending fashion shows in places such as New York. She chose Plymouth, her hometown, to start the business "because we just love it here, and there is a lot of support here," her mother says.

Source: Manager, Lola Ryan boutique, Plymouth
Writer: Kim North Shine

Kurt M. Lienhard is another example of job loss leading to entrepreneurism. His Perfectly Sweet Cakes & Desserts in downtown Plymouth has continuously grown since opening nine months ago in a shared space with Boule Artisan Bread .

But as Perfectly Sweet's business grew it became clear it needed its own space. So in May Lienhard moved into his own shop at 470 Forest, next to the Cozy Cafe.

"The day after Mother's Day, as promised, my friends and family and I were literally pushing freezers, everything down the street," Lienhard says.

Initially the former pharmaceutical sales rep (who was lost his job in late 2008) went into business with a friend and baker in another downtown Plymouth spot. "With a wife and three kids to take care of, I had to reinvent myself," he says.

He thought about what to do next. "My colleagues and I used to spend a lot of money at one of our favorite bakeries to entertain our customers, doctors,whatever," Lienhard says. "The  owner and I befriended each other and decided to go into business together. It went off unbelievably successful for two years, but we later decided to part ways."

After their Sweets 21closed, Lienhard opened Perfect Sweets, which became his full-time job and the full-time jobs of four others.

"Our whole premise for being in downtown was being near all the events that are going on here," he says.

Source: Kurt M. Lienhard, owner, Perfectly Sweet Cakes & Desserts
Writer: Kim North Shine

The streets of downtown Plymouth take Daniela Kokalevski back to her homeland of Macedonia.

For Kokalevski, who has a background in banking and a love of fashion, it was those features that made her decide the downtown, known for its charm and foot traffic, was the perfect place to open a boutique.

Dazzling Daniela has a vintage bent and offers dresses, from casual to formal, most if not all the styles picked up on buying trips to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York.

Besides selling head-to-toe fashion, Kokalevski and her staff will fit all their customers.

"We're getting great word of mouth, and social media is bringing people in," says Daniela, whose shop had a ribbon cutting with the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce earlier this month.  "I love doing it in a place that makes me feel like I'm in Macedonia."

Source: Daniela Kokalevski, owner Dazzling Daniela
Writer: Kim North Shine

When Brett Wilson decided on a location for the offices of his company, Creativibe, he chose it based on place, rather than being nearest his biggest client or close to company peers.

The place, a downtown Plymouth spot, overlooking Kellogg Park and within walking distance from his home, fit with what his company does for clients such as Henry Ford and University of Michigan health systems, Service Brands International, State of Michigan and Credit Suisse and others.

"For me it's not the foot traffic that important to the business. It's a good physical presence," he says. "It's centrally located in the heart of downtown Plymouth and in a beautiful historic building."

The building at 338 Main St. was built in the 1890s, "had a nice floor plan" and is located above the martini bar, 336 Main.

Creativibe started in 2006 and provides clients with web design services, identity branding and marketing strategies.

"We're here partly for the presence and also for the branding…People see the logo. There are a lot of business people here in Plymouth and in the surrounding area, people from big business," Wilson says. "They're here with their families. They're out walking around. They may develop that brand recognition."

Source: Brett Wilson, principal, Creativibe
Writer: Kim North Shine

The word downtown was tossed around a lot in 2011. Everybody has one or is working on creating one as they pursue the newfound love of things urban. Downtown Development Authorities, Chambers of Commerce, Main Street programs had Main Streets - and their equivalents - throughout metro Detroit putting money into makeovers and facelifts in 2011 as city leaders saw promise in creating places that preserve history, have varied businesses and invite walking, biking, strolling.

The changes were big and small. Together should convey: You want to come here. Decorative, energy-efficient street lights, attractive, theme-appropriate benches, trash-receptacles, pedestrian-safe sidewalks and crosswalks, art installations, benches, historic preservation projects, special events, facade grants, kiosks to direct visitors, even phone apps to get them around town - all wrapped in business recruitment and PR.

Cities with the most real downtowns: Rochester, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Mount Clemens, Dearborn, Plymouth, Northville. The up-and-comers: Auburn Hills, Clarkston, Berkley, Novi, Wyandotte.

Downtown Rochester $1 million streetscape re-do is on
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0818rochesterredo0221.aspx

Downtown Lake Orion gets $2 million streetscape, new microbrewery
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0922lakeorion0225.aspx

Mount Clemens invests more than $250K in way-finding signs
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0915wayfinders0224.aspx

Wyandotte DDA's business improvement grants paying off
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0526plymouthnightlife0211.aspx

Nightlife builds in downtown Plymouth
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0526plymouthnightlife0211.aspx

Ice rink cometh to Auburn Hills heating up plans for downtown
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/icerink0192.aspx

Graduate housing, downtown parking and retail complex coming to Auburn Hills
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/1201ahhousing0234.aspx

Main Street Oakland recognizes top downtown projects
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0310mainstreetoakawards0200.aspx


By Kim North Shine

Streets for everyone. The Michigan Complete Streets initiative gained momentum in 2011 in metro Detroit and around the state as cities enacted changes or made plans to design roads and sidewalks that take pedestrians, cyclists and drivers into account. The Michigan's Complete Streets movement got props for being a role model nationwide. Separately from Complete Streets, cities and various nonprofits worked on the same goal: streets that accommodate all. It's been a process playing out for a few years now so expect to see more bike lanes, new style crosswalks and other changes coming to a town near you.

Michigan is national leaders in street design that serves cars, bikes and pedestrians
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0317micompletestreets0201.aspx

Streetscape grants from Royal Oak's WA3 help unify Woodward Corridor
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/woodwardcorrgrants0194.aspx

Royal Oak's non-motorized transportation plan is out for public feedback
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/1110royaloakwalkride0232.aspx

Walkers, cyclists may like changes coming to Grosse Pointe, Dearborn
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0901fedtransgrants0223.aspx

By Kim North Shine

If eating is on the agenda, then downtown Plymouth has an expanding menu.

Panache, an upscale restaurant, is opening on Forest in place of the 1999 Tavern, which closed late last year, Plymouth Downtown Development Director Tony Bruscato says.

Nearby, Grape Expectations is reopening as Zin, with a list of 100 changing, seasonal wines and a tapas menu.

Also on Forest, Bagel Fragel is opening in a vacant spot and bringing its twist on bagels to Plymouth.

Perfectly Sweet Cakes and Desserts has opened inside the Boule Artisan Bakery on Ann Arbor Trail.

And down the street at the prominent southeast corner of Main and Ann Arbor Trail, an old Amoco station is making way for a new building that may house a complex of restaurants, Bruscato says. The planning commission recently approved the site plan, limiting the building to two stories instead of three - a point of contention for downtown business owners concerned about inadequate parking.

Bruscato says it is unclear what exactly will go in to the building, but that construction will start within days.

Restaurants aren't the only new game in town. The Agio Spa at 444 S. Main opened about two weeks ago, in place of Spa Julianna, which closed when the owner died, Bruscato says. It offers massage, waxing, Vichy showers, hydrotherapy, facials and hair and body treatments.

"When many other downtowns are just hoping to hang on to what they have or losing businesses," Bruscato says, "we're still seeing new businesses coming."

Source: Tony Bruscato, director, Plymouth Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Kim North Shine

Downtown Plymouth, known for its history, its ice festival, and boutique shopping, is making a name for itself as a designation for nighttime fun.

Tony Bruscato, director of the Plymouth Downtown Development Authority, says the city has hit the sweet mix of daytime vibrancy with boutiques, shops, restaurants, and soon-to-expand office space with nighttime action that's attracting 20-somethings on up.

The Detroit section of about.com listed Plymouth in its top 10 up and coming neighborhoods for nightlife destinations. Bruscato says it's here and now.

There's live music and a lengthy drink list at 336 Martini Bar, a DJ every Friday at Hermann's Olde Town Grille, the Penn Bar and Grill, Sean O'Callaghan's Pub, the Grape Expectations Wine Bar and more.

The city nighttime vibe gets to pumping even more when the Music in the Air concert series starts in Kellogg Park this weekend.

The concerts attract 3,000-4,000 people, Bruscato says.

"I think Plymouth is a good market. It's a good place to be right now," he says. "I think if you were looking for the cool downtowns Plymouth would certainly be one of those.  We've really turned into a town for nightlife. A younger clientele is coming in. Larger business offices are moving in. Young families are moving in…We've been very lucky."

Source: Tony Bruscato, director Plymouth Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Kim North Shine

DTE Energy's community gardens are growing by four acres and possibly hundreds of new volunteers this year.

Farming season for the 10 DTE Energy Gardens kicked off in Southfield earlier this week, starting a multi-faceted project that provides food to Gleaners Community Food Bank. The gardens also offer volunteers the opportunity to get involved in their communities, to get more exercise and to learn about gardening. The gardens also serve as aesthetic buffers around DTE facilities.

Last year, the 10 gardens produced 44,000 pounds of food for Gleaners and its food banks. With extra land and more volunteers - as many as 1,000 total - the amount of food grown is expected to increase this year, DTE Spokesman Scott Simons says.

DTE Energy and Gleaners started the program at two electric substations in 2008 and have since expanded to company properties in Allen Park, Birmingham, Farmington Hills, Frenchtown Township, Plymouth Township, Pontiac, Southfield, Lyon Township, Washington Township and Westland.

Source: Scott Simons, spokesman, DTE Energy
Writer: Kim North Shine

Downtown Plymouth is closing in on finishing a $2 million streetscape overhaul aimed at keeping its vacancy rate low and its vibrancy rate high.

"The last time the streets were done was in 1995 and it was starting to a look a little old," says Plymouth DDA Director Tony Bruscato. "And of course there's competition in downtowns for customers. Farmington and Northville and other cities were upgrading their downtown streets. You have to be competitive. You want people to come to your downtown and look at it favorably."

Bruscato likes to think it's just the latest in a line of good decisions that have kept  Plymouth's vacancy rates among the lowest, even in the most barren economic conditions, and businesses thriving day and night.

"We've been doing pretty well so we want to keep it that way," he says.

The streetscape projects include repaving, infrastructure changes, the installation of LED traffic lights on arms instead of wires, more walkable and safe crosswalks, and other work.
Some of the work was done last year; everything will be completed this year, the first phase finishing by May 27 in time for the first of Plymouth's outdoor concerts. They attract 3,000 - 5,000 people, Bruscato says.

The second and final phase will be completed in June, he says.

By then, every street in the downtown will have been touched, he says.

Source: Tony Bruscato, director, Plymouth Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Kim North Shine

Where now there's nothing but a field behind Central Middle School in Plymouth by August there will be a baseball field, concession stands, bathrooms -- all of it creating a special place for special needs kids who want to play sports but don't have a place to do it.

The Miracle League of Plymouth is building the $1.1-million park and broke ground on it last week. Hundreds of small donations and major contributions, including a $250,000 grant from the state, are making the Miracle League park happen. The Rotary Club of Plymouth sponsors the Miracle League.

Deb Madonna, co-chair of the Plymouth Miracle League, says a park like this complements and adds to the local fairs, markets, shows, and special events that bring people out into the community.
 
Most importantly it lets the families of special needs children "hear the answer yes for once," when they ask to let their children join in, says Madonna, who co-chairs with Bob Bilkie, whose family's Bilkie Family Foundation recently gave $150,000 for the naming rights of the park: Bilkie Family Park.

Plymouth's Miracle League field will be one of several in Michigan, including one in Southfield, which draws visitors from the region and beyond, and one in Mid-Michigan that is expected to open in June.

The project means a 20-year lease of the land to the league by the school district and at least half a million dollars to build the field and grounds.

"It's perfect use for this land, and the impact on the community is huge, especially in these economic times," Madonna says. "This is a private-public partnership to say, 'Hey come to Plymouth,' like you say, 'Come to Michigan, it's huge'"

"And then there's the whole other level of what it does for these families who many times are traipsing who know where to find some kind of therapeutic outlet for their child. We want those parents to know we did this for their children. This was first and foremost in our mind. There was no other purpose for this project except to have kids out there playing baseball."

Source: Debra Madonna, co-chair Plymouth Miracle League
Writer: Kim North Shine

Goods delivered by Rochester-Hills-based healthcare supplies provider Wright & Fillippis are getting to their destinations on propane power as the company converts 25 percent of its fleet to this clean form of fuel.

That means 12 of Wright & Fillippis' trucks and vans will run on propane as they deliver goods in Michigan. About half the vehicles have already been converted and are on the road and a propane station is up and operating at the company's headquarters.

"They're hoping to convert the entire fleet eventually," says Matt Sandstrom, mobility division manager for the Clean Energy Coalition, an Ann Arbor-based non-profit that steers companies through the process of converting to alternative fuels, whether for transportation or building.

The Wright & Fillippis fleet conversion came out of a partnership with the coalition through a $15 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 

Wright & Fillippis and the Clean Energy Coalition worked with Roush CleanTech, a Plymouth Township company that designs and manufactures liquid propane autogas fuel systems for a variety of light and medium Ford vehicles. The technology, which reduces vehicle operating costs and vehicle emissions, is available to consumers through authorized Ford dealerships.

The Wright & Fillippis project is one of several clean-fuel conversions being directed by the coalition through a $40 million agreement with the Department of Energy, says Sandstrom.

Of all the clean fuel projects, about a third are propane, he says. The others are compressed natural gas, electric, and hydraulic hybrid, he says. The type of fuel used depends on the type of fleet and uses of the vehicles, and the coalition guides companies through the learning process to select what's best for them.

Companies working with the Clean Energy Coalition include Frito-Lay, which is converting 90 of its vehicles, about half of its Michigan fleet, to propane, and U-haul, which is converting 30 vehicles.

"It should be very clear that this is not R&D. This is a deployment of these technologies… They've already been true and tried," Sandstrom says.

For Wright & Fillippis, propane autogas will result in the use of 48,000 fewer gallons of gasoline, the elimination of 931,200 pounds of carbon dioxide released, and a savings of $3,000 per converted vehicle, or $36,000 total thus far.

Source: Matt Sandstrom, mobility division manager, Clean Energy Coalition
Writer: Kim North Shine

Signs Now, one of two main divisions of Allegra Network, has moved its leadership team from Sarasota, Florida to Plymouth Twp, bringing together its Northville and Florida operations under one roof, as the company branches into marketing and visual communications.

The move into an industrial building in Plymouth Twp consolidated Allegra's signs and print brands divisions. Allegra is one of the world's largest marketing, print and graphics communications companies and ranks in the top 200 of franchise companies worldwide.

Previously, the headquarters for its print brands operated from a 16,000-square-foot space in Northville and Signs Now was run from a 6,000-square-foot space in Sarasota.

"We ended up buying a 67,000-square-foot building that allowed us to bring those operations together," Allegra Network majority owner Mike Marcantonio says. "Plymouth Township has been great to work with. It is really a business-friendly community."

About 50 employees work at the new Plymouth headquarters, some hired since the move, and more are expected to be hired as the company adds new services, Marcantonio says. The company has about 20 employees in Florida and other parts of the country. Some employees remained in Florida. Top leadership came to Michigan and will work in offices carved out of the former industrial building. The other part of the building is ideal for operations and will be used for training franchisees and "rolling out new products."

Plymouth will be the site of administrative offices for company leadership, franchise training, research and development, and also house a number of related businesses, from commercial art provider Progressive Art & Frame Design to the new marketing and visual communications arm that will offer small- to medium-sized companies marketing and advertising services typically not available from large agencies.

"We're developing a marketing resource center here in Plymouth," Marcantonio says.
This will lead to the hiring of marketing strategists, social media experts, designers and other jobs, he says.

Allegra is privately owned by an investor group including Marcantonio, former vice president of Domino's Pizza, and Thomas S. Monaghan, the founder and former CEO of Domino's Pizza and founder of Ave Maria University.

Source: Mike Marcantonio, majority owner Allegra Network
Writer: Kim North Shine