Entrepreneurship : Development News

At least 10 businesses, from restaurants and salons to boutiques and fitness studios, are on the slate of businesses to open in downtown Birmingham in early 2013.

One of the first to open may be Francesca's Collection at 115 Old Woodward South, which is scheduled to open its doors in February.

Market, the restaurant still in production by Luxe Bar & Grill's owners is scheduled for early in the year, but there's no official word from the couple on exactly when.

Adding to the restaurant scene, specifically the already crowded steakhouse set,will be Stoney River Legendary Steaks. It will replace the closed Max & Erma's at 280 Merrill Street. Both are owned by the same company. The opening date is set as early 2013.

Dailey Method, a local outpost of the San Francisco-originated workout that mixes ballet bar work, core conditioning, muscle strengthening, yoga and orthopedic exercises, is expected to open in early January and will give the restaurant-goers a place to work off the calories. There will be onsite child care, shower facilities and a boutique at the space in Birmingham Place.

Found Objects, a women's and men's clothing, accessories and lifestyle boutique, is also expected to open in February at 241 E. Merrill St.

Other boutiques, salons and restaurants are on the horizon.

"Birmingham's retail occupancy is 96.4%, the highest percentage since we started tracking 11 years ago," says John Heiney, executive director of the Birmingham Principal Shopping District. " We are looking forward to new stores opening in the first quarter."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: John Heiney, executive director, Birmingham Principal Shopping District

A former auto parts store in downtown Royal Oak has taken on a new role, multiple roles really, as eclectic wine and craft beer store, a take-out restaurant and cafe and a place for cheese and cigar afficianados to bond with their loves.

Franklin Fine Wine & Cafe opened last week in the 7,500 square foot spot at 511 N. Main St. and also offers a cigar humidor, a wine cellar and a full kitchen.

There will be a cheese club, a beer club, a wine club.

A chef is on staff so are sommeliers and a cheesemonger will select, cut and package speciality cheeses. The menu of takeout and eat-in will include gourmet pizzas, fish, beef and daily specials and the business will be a mix of store and late-night restaurant as it is open 'til midnight.

There are also plans to open an walk-up, outdoor coffee bar come summer

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Mike Larranaga, manager, Franklin Fine Wine & Cafe

Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company is adding a third location to its coffee bar line-up, opening a Lake Orion location within a few weeks.

The company known for its artisan roasting and belief in organic and fairly traded coffees - as well as a sweet seasonal offerings of unique beans throughout the year - first store opened on Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit. It's billed as the Institute for Advanced Drinking and is a retail storefront and purveyor of coffee, beer, wine and cocktails.

Its second location on Maple Road in Bloomfield Hills attracts coffee connoisseurs to the Clover Coffee Machine, the gold standard in individual drip coffee makers, often before a jaunt to the newly renovated Maple Theater.

The Lake Orion location expands the reach of the roasters at Great Lakes Coffee, which is  hiring managers and baristas for the new store.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Great Lakes Roasting Co.

The operators of Freedom Hill Amphitheater in Sterling Heights, a venue that closed in 2009 after 10 years in business and in the midst of legal disputes, is reopening and predicting its second shot at success will stick.  The venue is pinning that prediction on the music promoter who will book acts for the 7,200 seat outdoor theater.

With the reopening will come jobs and crowds again.

The theater is located at a Macomb County park on Metro Parkway near Schoenherr and will open in June. The first major act announced for the re-opening is Lady Antebellum for a June 13 performance.

Freedom Hill, which is a partnership between president & CEO of Andiamo Restaurant Group, Joe Vicari, and Luna Entertainment CEO and owner of MotorCity Harley-Davidson, Tom Celani, will work with concert promotor AEG Live instead of Live Nation, which sued the amphitheater over disputed concert revenues.

Freedom Hill's location on Metro Parkway near Schoenherr taps into markets in northern and eastern suburbs  not so easily served by larger venues and also pulled from the metro Detroit region and around the state.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Crain's Business Detroit and Jason Brown, PublicCity PR

You could say that Denise Kulak and her new Birmingham business were raised in a barn.

And it wouldn't be an insult.

FUN STUFF, a small, eclectic boutique that sells affordable jewelry, art, locally-made treats and more, was started, funnily enough, on a lark Up North one recent summer as her husband, sculptor Gary Kulak, set up his business for the summer.

"He was doing his sign for Gary Kulak Sculpture, I said, 'What about me?'  He said, 'What do you want to be?' I said, 'I want to be …and other fun stuff.' Thats how it all started…

The business, if it could be called that at the time, was set up "in my pole barn up north, just to do if for the summer,"

"I literally just threw out a sandwich board sign that said FUN STUFF. I still use it here at the store in Birmingham."

She used her connections from a 25-plus year career in retail to buy the goods she would sell.

"It just worked," she says.

She decided to try it closer to their year-round home in Birmingham. FUN STUFF, which keeps prices low but sells "quality things that I would be proud to give as a gift," opened Oct. 11 in the Adams Square Shopping Center. It's a short walk from the Kulak's home, the sort of commute Kulak has dreamed of for years.

"It's going really well. I've got a lot of traffic. I've seen a lot of people from the neighborhood. I wanted to be community-based and be near my home. I wanted to re-create the whole experience from Up North and do it in my neighborhood" says Kulak, who also sells her husband's signature chair sculptures. His work can be seen throughout Michigan and in other states.

Oddly enough the 200-square-foot store in the Adams Square Shopping Center is even smaller than the 500-square foot pole barn where FUN STUFF was born.

Kulak, who's been laid off from high-level retail jobs three times in 10 years and is a fourth generation retailer, is excited about getting back to what she loves - selling goods - but she's more driven to make the shop a place for socializing and getting to know locals.

Kulak is a master's degree candidate from Walsh College and is also a beneficiary of a business start-up program offered by the Walsh College Wayne State University Blackstone Launchpad, which is funded by the Blackstone Charitable Trust Foundation and is a partnership with the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, Automation Alley and the University of Miami.

Launchpad gave Kulak - and other entrepreneurs enrolled at Walsh and Wayne State - advice and assistance in starting the business, including feasibility studies, business plans and more.

Kulak is grateful, but again, this is a business she wants based on relationships, friendships with some salesemanship thrown in.

"I want this to be a place where every product has a story and every customer shares one…It's not just about selling stuff….It's about the woman who comes in here 2,3 times a week, tells a joke, a story or shares something important to her."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Denise Kulak, owner, FUN STUFF

Two Floridians lured to Michigan by the University of Michigan and the special degree she could obtain there, have not only decided to stay in Michigan after falling in love with Clawson but have opened an art gallery that wants to show off the unexpected talents of Michigan artists.

Maple Arcade opened last week at 38 E. 14 Mile Road in downtown Clawson after months of frustrating renovations but high hopes that the cool and quality vibe of downtown Clawson will let their gallery join the success stories of Clawson establishments like Leon & Lulu and Noble Fish.

Maple Arcade owner Jeffrey Bowman and his wife, Emily, moved to Michigan from Florida two and a half years ago so that she could work on a master of science information degree at U-M. She works as an information architect at Organic Inc.

"We both really liked Ferndale..It's more of a younger type thing, more art, music," he said. "But we couldn't find the house with the yard we wanted. I didn't even know about Clawson…I thought it was Royal Oak. We found this awesome house..
And after they started exploring "we fell in love with the place instantly…We started to eat at the restaurants, got know the owners, got to know the mailman and instantly got to know like six neighbors," he recalled.

The weekend after they moved, during the citywide garage sale, they strolled around the block and saw the vacant spot that would become Maple Arcade, which takes its name from Maple (for their dog, not the street) and from the time when arcade was also a place that housed artwork.

"We live a few blocks from the downtown strip," Bowman said. When we saw this place, I was like, 'look at this cool little place. Wouldn't it be awesome for a store?' "

A few months later they bought it and began the renovations to make it a showcase for all kinds of art. He is a painter himself and has sold works around the country.

"What I'm trying to do here is open a gallery of Michigan based artists and give a more out of the box type of place, not your standard, the stuff you expect to see," he says. "A lot of people who come in here, their first thing is, "Ooooh." Thats the kind of thing you want…You want things that people haven't seen."

Currently artist Zack Green's work is on display.

His bigger plans as he makes more connections with artists are to attract visitors to a multidimensional gallery, where they participate in podcasts with artists, see artists at work.

"We'll have the freedom to shut the shop dow, change it up," he said. "We want this to be a different kind of experience that's about the great art we have here."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Jeffrey Bowman, owner, Maple Arcade

City Kitchen in downtown Grosse Pointe is nearing completion on an expansion that will more than double the space of its bar which is big draw for the restaurant that opened six years ago.

After years of standing room only crowds at the "upscale yet casual" bar owner Chick Taylor decided to move into space that became vacant next door.

City Kitchen's expansion is one of several changes coming to Kercheval Avenue, the main street through The Village shopping district.

In the same block as City Kitchen a hair salon is opening in the space formerly occupied by Gap, which closed in January. Across the street a creperie and bakery, Sweet Little Sheila's opened in October.

Down the street an occupant for the closed Borders store has yet to be found, but city officials say other nearby development, including the Neighborhood Club and Beaumont Hospital's Health and Wellness Center, which will include a community fitness center and pool and will open in January, could spin off business for the business district.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: City of Grosse Pointe

The Hill business district in Grosse Pointe Farms, a stretch of stately architecture dominated in recent years by financial firms, is taking a step in a new direction with the opening of an upscale shoe and accessories store.

Capricious, located at 74 Kercheval Avenue, may help to liven up the strip of Kercheval Avenue that has lost retail shopping options in the last several years. In their place have come secure, but quiet offices, primarily for financial companies.

Behind the business - as well as others that have brought life and variety to The Hill, is Gretchen Valade, an heir to the Carhartt clothing fortune and founder of Jazz music label, Mack Avenue Records. Valade has been called the savior of Detroit's free jazz music festival since she bailed it out with a big donation. Her philanthropy is generous and widespread. And more and more she is making her name as a Pointer who gives back to her community by investing in new, quality businesses.

They include the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, a supper club and jazz venue on The Hill that attracts top names and puts out an award-winning menu.

A few doors down is Morning Glory, a bakery and coffee house and after-dinner drink spot, that has built a solid customer base since opening in the summer of 2011.

Just across the street is Capricious, the new shoe store that will sell high-end brands as well as jewelry, scarves, belts and other accessories from a store decorated to convey posh. Capricious gives Pointers a destination that may keep them in the Pointes rather than heading to Somerset Collection in Troy for a shopping fix.


The grand opening of Capricious, which is creating at least three full-time jobs, is Nov. 15.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Dawn Mitchell, assistant store manager

Zach Peterlin and Kim Decapite are in the dating phase of their relationship, but they've already figured out how to marry their experience into a restaurant and bar in Farmington.

Peterlin's Restaurant & Bar opened about six months ago at the corner of Farmington Road and 9 Mile "and it's been even better than we thought. You never know. Starting a business is a big gamble," Peterlin says.

He says the reasons the customers are coming have to do with value for fresh-made food, customer service that is as much a business cornerstone as the menu, and with backgrounds that he and Decapite bring to the table.

Peterlin, an honors graduate in hospitality management from Northern Michigan University and an experienced chef in corporate and independent restaurants, brings a passion for original and creative foods.

Decapite, with her experience in fine food shops such as Alban's Bottle & Basket in Birmingham and for the last eight years at Joe's Produce and Gourmet Market in Livonia, has perfected a face-to-face, customer-comes-first attitude.

"It's hard to compete with the Subways and Little Caesars and their $5 meals. But it's all processed," Peterlin says. "I think we've found the right price point and we have the quality."

Peterlin also brought with him customers he had cultivated while working as a chef for other restaurants. They chose to open in Farmington because they live there and because they knew there was market potential, he says.

Peterlin and Dicapite met during a food and wine pairing course, and decided about a year ago to go into business for themselves.

"I had gone to work for J Alexander's right out of school and learned a lot. But I wanted to try to the independent thing. So I went to work for smaller, independents. I found out I like doing the independent thing, being creative and doing something that's special, Peterlin explains. "We think we've hit the right combination: a good price point, fresh food, great customer service. In these times you have to give people value and you have to give them what's going make them come back."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Zach Peterlin, co-owner, Peterlin's Restaurant & Bar

A much-watched restaurant project in downtown Rochester keeps going deeper into history as its owners build an new eatery that maintains ties to the building's past.

Owners Jason Mood and Chris Johnson had hoped to open The Meeting House in October, but they decided to go ahead with bigger plans to renovate both floors of the 1880s-era building at 301 S. Main Street rather than just the first. They are also seeing how painstaking preservation can be but expecting it to pay off as the historical features of the 1880s era building are uncovered and highlighted.

Construction began last summer, which was the start of a dream for the two former staffers of Beverly Hills Grill. Mood was a host, Johnson a chef.

Kristi Trevarrow, executive director of the Rochester Downtown Development Authority, says the renovation is impressive and "It's pretty phenomenal what they've found there and what they've worked through," she says. They've worked with historic committee people and discovered many interesting things. Its a really cool project. It's been challening, but it's been so good."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Kristi Trevarrow, executive director, Rochester Downtown Development Authority

Little lice - and the families who so desperately want to get rid of them - are responsible for the big growth of the Rapunzel's Lice Boutique, which opened its fourth salon last week in Farmington Hills.

Owner Sarah Casello-Rees, who opened the first boutique in Ann Arbor in 2009, says, "We've been doubling our growth every year."

Sure the ipads, lego tables and TVs have attracted notice for the family-oriented salons but for Rapunzel's growth has come because those pesky head bugs have built up a resistance to traditional treatments and parents want to avoid pesticides to treat a problem that can consume hours, days, weeks, looking for lice and picking nits.

The determined removal specialists at Rapunzel's use a heat treatment and manual removal, a one-time process that is guaranteed.

Rapunzel's started as a mobile operation called the Lice Brigrade in 2008.

"When we opened our first boutique we thought the name was a little too militaristic. We wanted something more comforting," says Casello-Rees.

About 15 employees work for the company and there are more job openings for removal technicians who are paid $25-$35 an hour.

Rapunzel's recently started offering a benefits package to employees.

"As an owner of the company we strive to offer outstanding customer service to the families…and what's equally important is being a good employer," Casello-Rees says.

Employees receive health care coverage and a retirement plan.

"When we started in 2008 we were at the lowest point in our economy, so to do this is no small feat…I call it a recession proof business because people are always willing to pay to get ride of their parasites," says Casello-Rees. "

The Farmington Hills location on Farmington Road opened in response to the large number of Oakland County customers traveling to other shops in other counties.

Besides the Ann Arbor location, which is on Plymouth Road, there are boutiques in Sterling Heights on Metro Parkway and in Grand Rapids.

"It's just like a salon…The only difference is we don't cut hair or wash hair….Licensed hair sons can't treat head lice or service customers with lice," she says. "The hair industry is thrilled we are here….That's where we a get lot of referrals."

And with all the amenities, "the kids love coming there."

"They sometimes ask to come back," she says. "Usually the parents aren't too keen on that."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Sarah Casello-Rees, owner Rapunzel's Lice Boutique

Construction is more than halfway complete for a new brewpub that is expected to open in March in Birmingham's Rail District.

Even before all the walls are up, however , Griffin Claw Brewing Co. is holding tastings to highlight the bread and butter of its business - its Big Rock Chophouse brews from brewmaster Dan Rogers. The latest tasting of Roger's award-winning IPA came with a construction update.

The 12,000-square-foot facility is being build on Eton Street. Brewing and distribution will take place on site, and there will be a tasting roo and outdoor garden to complement the restaurant.

On Nov. 1, Big Rock Chop House sold and shipped its massive 15-barrel copper tank system to a brewing in Lexington, Kentucky. In December, Griffin Claw will receive new brewery equipment from Kraft Werks in Lake Orion.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Jaclyn Robinson, JT Marketing Group

Talk of a comeback for Kercheval Avenue in Grosse Pointe Park never really goes away, but with the anticipated opening of three new restaurants - and possibly more - in coming months locals are saying the comeback is here and now.

Perhaps the restaurant opening creating the most excitement is Red Crown, a southern-influenced American comfort food joint that will open inside the garage bays and office of the Standard Oil service station, long closed but beloved for its art deco architecture.

Renovations are in progress and Red Crows is expected to open in December.

Mindy Lopus, the owner of still hot, French-inspired Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro and her rustic Italian eatery Bellapiatti, both in Birmingham, is behind all three restaurants coming to the Park.

Besides Red Crown, which will have a garage opening onto a fireplace, patio with ping-pong tables and a kitchen run by top metro Detroit chefs, Lopus is behind a the Bona Fide Baking Company, which will move into the close Mulier's Market. Pastry chef and James Beard finalist Tanya Fallon will manage the bakery's output of artisan breads that will be sold in and out of the store and be used at Red Crown. Bona Fide, which is expected to open before the end of the year, will have a coffee bar and serve breakfast lunch.

Next to Bona Fide,where there is now parking lot, will be a Tallulah's wine bar and cafe like the Birmingham original.

The three restaurants are part of a larger redevelopment plan for the business district that hangs on to its quaint 40s-era architecture and a mix of earthy, artistic and longtime businesses are attracting young, newcomers and maintaining their old faithful clientele.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Mindy Lopus, restaurateur

The three year old Dessert Oasis in downtown Rochester is moving into a larger space to bring its specialty in-house roasted coffees desserts and live music to more customers.

Renovations are happening now at the new location, 336 South Main, just down the street from its current store at the corner of Main and 2nd.

The new location should be open sometime this winter winter and will offer more seating, a larger stage and a larger roasting area for the business that prides itself on pulling in the high quality beans and roasting them the way they're meant to be. The beans come from only from farms that Dessert Oasis knows as respected and reputable and the desserts are baked daily. Live entertainment happens nightly.

The Dessert Oasis even has a director of quality control, and the staff of baristas, sales people and managers is growing.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Dessert Oasis

Holiday parties, corporate events and birthday celebrations are already booking for an indoor trampoline business that's opening this weekend in Troy.

The pre-opening interest is showing the Ohio couple who left successful careers in Columbus to start AirTime Trampoline & Game Park that their idea has some major bounce.

Pam and Will Wannemacher have renovated a 31,000-square-foot space at busy Rochester and 16 Mile roads as they launch what they expect to be a franchise. Two more openings are already in the planning.

"It is our own creation," she says. "We're planning two more in the Detroit area…We absolutely love it here…We looked all over the country for locations: Austin, Texas, Charlotte, Philly, Miami. We decided on Detroit ."

In Troy, where there is 15,000 square feet of trampolines, some interconnected so jumpers can "literally bounce off the walls," Pam Wannemacher says, the couple have hired 70 employees, 30 of them full time.

"We've been absolutely thrilled with the quality of people we've hired," she says.

It was Detroit's down real estate market and retail space prices that weren't as "astronomical" as other cities that brought them to Michigan. Their location near REI, Norstrom Rack and other high traffic retailers was key, she says.

The anticipation of the opening comes through on AirTime's Facebook page, and the owners have decided to make Friday the sneak peak day for its Facebook fans. Saturday will be open to the public. Tuesday will be the official grand opening.

Pam originally owned a commercial cleaning company and had been in public relations and marketing for AT&T and BankOne while Bill was in construction for a national restaurant group. The two decided it was time for something new.

"It was a big risk, a big lifestyle change," she says. "But we weren't just spinning a wheel and hoping for good luck. Detroit has the demographics and the market for a business like ours to grow."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Pam Wannemacher, co-owner and operator Air Time Trampoline & Game Park