Development News

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

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

A prominent downtown Birmingham location will be filled by international retailer lululemon before the winter holidays, the second metro Detroit store and fourth Michigan store of the popular yoga and running outfitter.

John Heiney, executive director of the Principal Shopping District in Birmingham, says the Canadian athletic retailer will take the majority of space at 101 South Old Woodward, a space vacated by Ann Taylor Loft in January.

He says a second national retailer is finalizing plans to move into the remaining square footage in the prominent storefront, and the name can be disclosed within days.

A store such as lululemon, he says, fits Birmingham, and is the latest example of the city's decision to hire a national retail recruiter.

"This lifestyle brand aligns well with Birmingham customer and they will draw from a large segment of the market," he says.

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

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

Aaron Stone is hoping to play up a different aspect of Ferndale's cool vibe by opening a self-serve yogurt business downtown.

Stone, the owner-operator who has hired six part-time employees since his Easy Like Sundae opened at 172 9 W. 9 Mile July 20, says "

The former marketing agency employee and personal sports performance and football coach decided to go into business for himself after hearing his parents rave about a self-serve yogurt shop in Tennessee.

His Easy Like Sundae, like other self-serve yogurt businesses, lets customers pick their cup, their ice cream and then pick from a buffet of toppings.

"I thought it would fit great in Ferndale so I went for it," says Stone, who is also looking to hire an assistant manager.

Source: Aaron Stone, owner Easy Like Sundae
Writer: Kim North Shine

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

A Rouge River island with a deep history and a washed up appearance is looking better than it has in years, and though it's more industrial than natural its become a place of interest for recreational water users and environmentalists.

Fordson Island, an 8.4 acre piece of land born in the early 1920s when a channel was dug by the Army Corps of Engineers to increase shipping transportation, fell into decline in the 1970s after the water levels dropped, sediment rose and residents left.

Rundown homes, dozens of old and rusty boats and poor water quality were discovered years later, and a now two-three year old effort by several organizations, including AKT Peerless, an environmental and energy consulting firm; NOAA, the marine debris division National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority; and Friends of the Rouge have removed tons of debris, literally, which has resulted in an improvement in water quality.

Slowly, the island, although private, is starting to attract nature lovers and kayakers, along with fish and other wildlife. Hundreds of volunteers have removed many many cubic yards of junk and garbage, and water testing has shown an improvement in the amount of pollution.

Several goals have been set, including the return of fish once common to the area.

The island is about 3 miles inland from the Detroit River on the River Rouge owned by the city of Dearborn and accessible only by boat or a one-lane bridge from Detroit.

Source: Tim McGahey, regional manager of operations for Southeast Michigan at AKT Peerless
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

The artists behind the tribute sculptures planned for points along Woodward Avenue are putting the intricate finishing touches on the first two in the project: The Royal Oak Tribute and the Highland Park Tribute.

The 30-foot-tall lighted solar-powered glass and concrete interpretive sculptures, a project of the Woodward Avenue Action Association and the National Scenic Byways, will tell different stories at each location and honor the heritage of Woodward Avenue, which has been federally-designated as an All-American Road.

In Royal Oak, where organizers had hoped to unveil the sculpture in time for the Woodward Dream Cruise Aug. 16 - 18, the Royal Oak Tribute will honor the link to car cruising, drive-in theaters and such.

In Highland Park, says Lori Ella Miller, spokesperson for the Woodward Avenue Action Association, the tie-in will be Henry Ford and automobile innovation.

The Royal Oak sculpture will stand in the median at Woodward and 13 Mile and Highland Park's will be at the corner of Gerald and Woodward, but neither will be ready until mid-August, "more like late August," Miller says.

"You just want to be sure they're done right," she says.

"Iluminatinon events" will be held to unveil the sculptures.

"Our ultimate goal is to have eight to ten of these along Woodward," Miller says. "We hope to start working on a Detroit Tribute next."

The artists, Kyle Evans and his Royal Oak Tribute and Julie Jankowski and her Highland Park Tribute, are completing the concepts that link the past to the present. The $150,000 sculptures are paid for with federal grants and matching donations from  supporters such as businesses and nonprofits, and more contributions are needed, Miller says.

Source: Lori Ella Miller, Woodward Avenue Action Association
Writer: Kim North Shine

Livonia's busy shopping district at Plymouth and Middlebelt roads has taken on a new tenant. It is a test store in Children's Orchard's plans to expand their business into the adult and teen resale arena.

Style Trader, the newest branch of Children's Orchard, opened July 14. Children's Orchard is a national chain of resale shops which offers used children's clothing, toy and furniture. It has dozens of stores in more than 20 states and is based in Ann Arbor.

Style Trader's resale store in Livonia offers "a unique alternative to traditional shopping, where local shoppers can get an entire wardrobe at a huge discount while trading in clothes they have outgrown or just don’t wear anymore," says a statement announcing the opening.

CEO Taylor Bond says the new stores will appeal to a built-in base of budget-conscious consumers in the market for discounted name brands, a base that is growing along with the company's sales.

"Style Trader is the first upscale resale store to cater to women, teens, kids, and men all under one roof," Bond says in a statement announcing the store opening.

The Livonia store is located at 11502 Middlebelt Road and is 7,500 square feet of space fill with more than 20,000 pieces of merchandise.

Source: Taylor Bond, CEO, Children's Orchard and Style Trader
Writer: Kim North Shine

Giant, colorful perch are on the sidewalks of the Grosse Pointes, a definite improvement from the stinky mounds of fish flies that made their annual visit several weeks ago.

Unlike the stinky, slippery insects, the perch are a welcome sight around town as they serve multiple purposes, including generating traffic for businesses and business areas, raising money for philanthropic municipal improvements and providing some artistic eye candy for passersby.

The Grosse Pointe Perch, 51 of them, are a project of the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce and come seven years after a highly successful fundraising frog project. The concept originated in 1998 with Cows on Parade in Zurich, Switzerland. The cow concept spread to Chicago and to dozens of other U.S. and international cities.

Other cities have also come up with their own versions of public art to reflect their towns' personalities and draw people to town while raising money: cartoonish cars in Detroit, salmon in Anchorage, bears in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

For Grosse Pointe, the perch is a play on Lake St. Clair that runs along the five Pointes, a love of the water, and, of course, the perch - whether fishing for them or eating them.

Source: Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce
Writer: Kim North Shine

Kristin Lusn has left the nest of a major law firm and started her own private practice in downtown Royal Oak.

Kristin Lusn, Attorney & Counselor, is located at 612 East 4th St. and is a change in direction for the 32-year-old Michigan State grad who worked at Giamarco, Mullins & Horton from 2009-2012 and was named as a Rising Sar in Super Lawyers and as a dBusiness Top Lawyer in 2012.

"I wanted to be centrally located and since I want to service large and small businesses I wanted to be in an accessible location," says Lusn, whose specialties include workers compensation, labor and employment, general corporate issues and immigration and tax.

She also knew that now in her early 30s, with no children, was a good time to take the chance on starting her own business.

Her decision to lease downtown space rather than move into a major office building keeps with her desire to serve small business as well as her corporate clients. "I didn't want to be in a big office and turn away mom and pop shops," she says.

Lusn loves Detroit and metro Detroit and wants to make it work here, instead of leaving. She is working on sharing an office in downtown Detroit with an attorney, who like her, has gone solo. "I really want to have a Detroit presence," she says.

She expects to hire a full-time assistant in Royal Oak by the end of the year.

"It's going great," she says. I'm very excited about the future."

Source: Kristin Lusn, attorney
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

Michigan's largest solar power array is soaking up rays and generating power from the rooftop of the IKEA in Canton.

The massive, 122,000-square-foot, 4,160-panel photovoltaic array was plugged in last week week and will produce about 1.1 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity.

IKEA's announcement of the project says it will reduce its carbon dioxide output by 769 tons and eliminate emissions equal to the annual output of 151 cars or 96 homes.

The completion of Canton's PV array, which is owned by IKEA rather than being leased, as is typical, is the 20th such project for Sweden-based IKEA in the U.S. Chicago-based SoCore Energy, one of the largest commercial solar developers in the Midwest, oversaw the installation.

"We are thrilled at how this solar energy system furthers our commitment to sustainability at IKEA Canton,” Anton van Dongen, store manager, says in a statement. “IKEA has a never-ending job where most things remain to be done that encourages us always to ask ourselves how we can improve what we do today for a better tomorrow. We appreciate the support of the Canton Township, Detroit Edison and SoCore Energy, our partners in this project.”

Source: Amanda Preston, spokesperson, IKEA
Writer: Kim North Shine