Entrepreneurship : Development News

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, 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

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

Birmingham's burgeoning Rail District, a part of the city that's emerged in recent years as both chic and family friendly, will now count a microwbrewery and restaurant among its businesses, that include a popular swim school and various boutiques.

Ground for Griffin Claw Brewing Company, the latest endeavor by the owners of Big Rock Chophouse and The Reserve, was broken July 12 and construction is to be completed by March 2013. When finished there will be a tasting room, restaurant and outdoor garden at 575 S. Eton St.

The new 12,000-squqre-foot facility will be the new home for Big Rock Chophouse's award-winning beer, made by brewmaster Dan Rogers. The beer will be brewed in energy-efficient equipment lined with a ceramic insulating coating similar to what's used on space shuttles.

What's made will be served at Griffin Claw and also distributed as Griffin Claw owners, Norman and Bonnie LePage, capitalize on the public's growing interest and preference for craft products. Griffin Claw Brewing Company is envisioned as a neighborhood spot where bike racks will be plentiful and nearby residents can walk to and from dinner or drinks.

Griffin Claw will be located next to the innovative Robot Garage that has taken Lego and robot building to a whole new level.

Source: Griffin Claw Brewing Co. and City of Birmingham Planning Board
Writer: Kim North Shine

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

PublicCity PR recently celebrated the opening of its first office with a party for friends, family and clients, a roster that keeps growing as the four-year-old firm succeeds at getting local businesses' stories into the media sphere.

The three-person firm started by Jason Brown in his home in 2008 went into a separate office, albeit an untraditional one, in Southfield last January.

"In Michigan, as you know, there are a lot of solo-preneurs out there doing great work," says Brown, remembering. "I got a little tired of meeting at coffee shops. There were meetings at clients' offices, but it's nice to have a place for them to come to, for us to come together as a team."

"The lightbulb moment for me," he says, was the time four women were slapping tiles onto a table during a game of Mahjohg as he met with a client.

Brown says the decision to work from an office that's shared with other business owners in the Century Office Plaza in Southfield has helped his firm grow and feel more professional. The office has a common space shared by all the users, a lobby, kitchen, conference rooms, and separate offices. Overall it has a creative, urban, fun feel with renovations that turned a stodgy office into a modern design with red walls and modern materials.

Brown runs PubliCity PR with Monica Cheick-Luoma and his wife, Hope Brown, who left Lambert, Edward & Associates to join the family firm in April.

Its client list includes Zoup! and Just Baked Cupcakes. The latest client: Townsend Hotel in downtown Birmingham.

"Our clients' first impression is important," Brown says. "When they walk in, there's this sense of wonder."

Brown says the office has also allowed his firm to hire an intern for the first time, something he's wanted to do but didn't feel was right not having an office.

"It's been a great move for us," he says.
 
Source: Jason Brown, founder, PublicCity PR
Writer: Kim North Shine

The truism that road construction is a business killer may not be so true for downtown Rochester. Several businesses have recently opened or are about to despite a major rebuild of Main Street through the heart of downtown.

"It's like nothing we've ever seen. We are busier this year than all of last year," says Kristi Trevarrow, executive director of the Rochester Downtown Development Authority.

The project is expected to be finished July 20, Trevarrow says. The closure of Main Street started in early April and involves completely rebuilding the road, including unearthing the original brick road, and adding new amenities, decorative details, and energy efficient features. The decorative details such as planters won't be in until September, she says.

Some of the businesses coming to town:

The Meeting House, a restaurant owned by two guys with impressive restaurant backgrounds. Owners Jason Moon and Chris Johnson bought the whole building at 301 S. Main St. and will use the outdoor patio and first floor for dining and the upstairs for private events, Trevarrow says.

Carrie Lee's is expanding from its popular Lake Orion location to 227 Main St., former home of Fuse Lounge & Bar.

Mama Mia's will serve a Tuscan menu on the site of Fortesa, 543 Main St., which closed last year. It was approved for a liquor license this week, Trevarrow says.

Dublin Fish & Chips moved in about a month ago, she says, after deciding a downtown location was better than a shopping strip in Macomb Township.

The trend of self-serve yogurt with a buffet of toppings comes to Sweet Island Yogurt, which is at 404 Main and undergoing renovations.

Also recently opened, and getting lots of traffic (the good kind), is Moon River Soap Co., which purchased a building at 339 East St. to replace its location in New Baltimore.

"It's been absolutely wonderful," Trevarrow says, "even with the construction."

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

Rebecca Bayes has brought together her two passions into one business in downtown Berkley.

It's an unlikely pairing, but Bayes, a longtime financial consultant and yoga practitioner, believes mixing the two fields and helping her financial consultants get in touch with their emotional, spiritual, and physical sides is the next frontier in finance.

She's exploring it through her newly opened Shanti Yoga on Coolidge between Catalpa and 12 Mile roads.

"It's my fantasy," she says. "It's amazing to see it come together."

Shanti, which means peace, opened July 2 in a 1,300-square-foot renovated building that now has offices, meeting rooms, and yoga studio in one.

Bayes, who was a longtime financial consultant for Comerica Bank before going out on her own two years ago, already plans to expand to physical therapy and reiki.

Source: Rebecca Bayes, owner, Shanti Yoga
Writer: Kim North Shine

The people who brought to Ferndale The Oakland, with its focus on sophisticated rich decor, classic cocktails made like in the old days, intimate seating and a no standing allowed rule are going the other direction with a Tiki Bar that welcomes groups to congregate, drinking from plastic cups amid twinkling lights and an casual Polynesian style.

Honi Honi Tiki Bar opened June 22 in downtown Ferndale and "will offer all the things the Oakland can't," the owner announced.

Honi Honi refers to the Polynesian greeting of pressing noses together and inhaling at the same time. "It represents the exchange of life and the sacredness of the simple ac of greeting,"

The drinks will be tiki-inspired and made of fresh, local produce and high quality spirits. The menu will be small, one to two beers and three of four cocktails, and will continually change.

Honi Honi is located at off Troy St. behind The Oakland, which is at 201 1 9 Mile. Troy is one block south. The establishments will have separate entrances and operations.

Source: The Oakland and Honi Honi
Writer: Kim North Shine

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

The story behind the origin of Brew Jus, its artisan sliders paired with beer sauces and its signature beer ice cream (yes, there is a such thing), is one of finding a silver lining to the economic black clouds that have gathered over Michigan.

Brew Jus Petite Eatery is the brainchild of Nick Schultz and David Ballew, two guys who struggled to figure out what to do with life after losing their jobs. The eatery, which opens this week, is the first restaurant to open in the Rust Belt Market, a a former Old Navy on Woodward near 9 Mile, where artists work on and sell their creations.

After being laid off from their jobs, thirtysomethings Ballew (of Royal Oak) and Schultz (Ferndale) discovered they had both culinary passion and talent. For Schultz it was sauces, for Ballew it was beer making. Both had backgrounds in the food industry, working in restaurants and food service. Schultz decided to go to culinary school and Ballew perfected brewing. They paired up on their first event in 2009, experimenting with the beer-food pairing concept. It caught on and by 2011 they had formed the Brew Jus brand.

“The dire times in Michigan during the recession forced us to look for something else to do,” says Schultz, the guy behind the blog, The Sauced Chef. We’re grateful that adversity allowed us to find our passions and offer something new to
foodies and beer lovers.”

“We are constantly redefining the relationship between food and beer,” Schultz says.

Brew Jus at Rust Belt Market will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to  7 p.m., selling "distinct sliders," including a vegan option with beer-based sauces. The beer ice cream will for sell as well.

Source: Nick Schultz, co-owner and co-founder Brew Jus
Writer: Kim North Shine

A longtime chef and caterer is selling his recipes from a Marathon gas station in Canton, an endeavor that's proving to be a winning example of entrepreneurship aided by a quick-moving city government.

Robert Grant's business plan to set up a restaurant in one corner of a gas station was unusual and, he was warned, could be problematic under city code.

"They were amazing," says Grant, who worked in food services at Metro Airport, for Pan Am Airlines and in catering on the campaigns of several Detroit and Michigan politicians. "

The K&L Marathon Deli featuring Fussy Gussie's Corned Beef is located at the corner of Lilley and Warren roads in Canton. It opened three months ago and is attracting nearby residents, office workers and walk-ins. The restaurant, a $1,200 investment, is basically two stainless steel tables as a front counter and prep space with a home refrigerator, hot plate and meat carver behind. In the back of the store, unseen, is the corned beef that so many people come for.

Grant, a culinary arts graduate, proudly displays his certificate of occupancy, food service license and a big poster with the first dollars he made here.

The restaurant name honors Grant's mother, who died in 2006. She left behind a winning corned beef recipe she learned from a Jewish woman she worked for. The ribs, green beans and Coneys "that are as good or better than Lafayette" are also on the menu, along with sandwiches, peach cobbler and other changing specials.

The name also recognizes the owners of the station, 42438 Warren. Owner Ken Merril urged Grant to bring some of his catering favorites into a retail setting. He's done it before in Detroit, but is still hoping to get a restaurant to stick. He's hoping to bring a food truck to Canton, something  he'll go see those previously helpful city officials about, and one day package the corned beef sandwiches.

"He guess he probably smelled the cooking on my clothes one day and he said you could open up something here," says Grant, who was reluctant initially. "I prayed about it and took a chance. I'm so thankful for him and for everyone at the city who made sure I could get my business up and going in 48 hours. Can you believe that? They've given me the opportunity of a lifetime."

Source: Robert Grant, caterer and owner of K&L Deli Featuring Fussy Gussie's Corned Beef
Writer: Kim North Shine

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

It's the hottest - maybe most mouth-watering - restaurant news in metro Detroit at the moment: the rebirth and transformation of the iconic Vinsetta Garage on Woodward in Berkley.

The brown paper covering the windows of the old station is staying on for now, but the kitchen will start turning out its creatively souped-up comfort foods at 4 p.m. today, June 1, owner Curt Catallo says. It's good prep for expanding to lunch service in a couple of weeks, he says.

Vinsetta Garage, a gas and service station that closed in 2009 but remains an architectural treasure, will go by the same name but turn out award-winning, burgers, mac & cheese and other dishes that can be described as home cooking meets every man's gourmet.

"We'll leave the paper on the windows and the sign off for a few days, so we can get our sea legs (so to speak)," Catallo writes in an email to metromode.

It's the latest venture from the people who brought metro Detroit the restaurant of the year in 2011, the Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen, and Union Woodshop, which it calls a big-time small-town barbecue joint, also in Clarkston.

With Vinsetta Garage's opening and plans to turn a fire hall in Fenton into another restaurant - it's awaiting the OK of city officials there - the owners are on the verge of creating a mini-restaurant empire that, according to food critics, is taking metro Detroit - and Michigan's - restaurant options up more than a notch.

It's not only good food news, to many, but a sign of economic promise as a team of "70 or so very passionate individuals" will staff Vinsetta, including at least four full-time jobs.  More hirings are happening now to cover the lunch service, he says.

While Vinsetta is eating up the attention at the moment, the Clarkston Union and Union Woodshop, Food Network favorites, are used to being under the heat lamp. A recent episode was filmed with Kid Rock and host Food Network host Guy Fieri.

According to Facebook and a June 1 story in Crain's Detroit Business, the restaurant opening has been much anticipated and private events leading up to opening day are creating suspense.

"Been waiting for so long. Happy to hear it's almost time," says one post. "I'm only in town until Monday morning. Hook me up!" pleads another.

The food, the work of chef Aaron Cozadd, may be the highlight, but the interior design and decor, both the work of Catallo's wife Ann Stevenson, and renovation decisions such as converting the old gas pumps out front into electric car chargers is sure to lead to table talk.

"As groovy as it was to work through the preservation," Catallo writes. "We're ready to start running the joint and bringing people back to the garage once again."

Source: Curt Catallo, owner Vinsetta Garage and Facebook pages of Vinsetta Garage and Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen
Writer: Kim North Shine

As Eftikhar Ahmed has gotten to know Birmingham - and Oakland County - he has learned that European transplants miss the Indian food so common to where they came from.

After enough times of hearing about their longing, "especially the English," he says, he decided to do something about it.

He and four partners are opening Touch of India at 297 East Maple Road in downtown Birmingham. The restaurant, which is taking the place of Le Feast, has been in a soft opening phase since April 18.

"When I would walk through the streets and talk to people, I would say this would be a good business here."

The owners are waiting for permanent signage and got an OK from the city last week t  put a temporary one in the window. Even as the owners work toward an official opening day, which will come in the next two weeks to 10 days, customers are finding them.

"People are finding us," he says. "So far, so good."

Within weeks the restaurant, which is employing four full-time chefs, manager and owner operators, will hire more wait staff, he says.

Source: Eftikhar Amhed, owner/operator, Touch of India
Writer: Kim North Shine