Entrepreneurs : Detroit Development News

Meijer plans to replace the old Redford High School in Northwest Detroit with one of its big-box stores, providing a prime example of demolition with a plan in the Motor City.

The former Detroit Public Schools high school's architecture served as a staple of the the Old Redford, Grandmont, Rosedale Park and Brightmoor neighborhoods at 21431 W Grand River Ave since it was built in 1924. It graduated a number of notable national personalities, including George C Scott before it closed in 2007.

The current development plan calls for razing the empty 1 million square foot school to make way for a new Meijer big-box store. The $22 million project will feature a retail, grocery and garden center. The Michigan Economic Development Corp provided brownfield tax credits worth $3.3 million from the state and $6.5 million from local government entities.

"In that respect it's a good thing there is a redevelopment plan," says Karen Nagher, former executive director of Preservation Wayne who now works consulting for historic redevelopment. "But I wish there would have tried to find a way to put retail and office space in there."

A common lament among Metro Detroit's preservation community is that many of the region's historic structures are razed with no plan to redevelop the property, leaving an urban prairie of blighted vacant lots. Some closed Detroit Public Schools buildings with remarkable historic architecture have fallen by the wayside in this way, including the historic Cass Tech building. The redevelopment of the old Redford High School building represents a move toward demolition with a plan for these sorts of structures.

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corp and Karen Nagher, former executive director of Preservation Wayne
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

A very visible representation of the rebirth of the Broderick Tower is going up this week, new windows.

The 35-story high-rise overlooking Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit has been undergoing an extensive renovation by Motown Construction Partners (the Beal Group is a key player in that venture) since earlier this year and is on schedule to open in September.

"The windows will be in very soon because we will be turning the heat on in the building," says Stewart Beal, member of Motown Construction Partners and who will serve as the property manager of the Broderick Tower. "We need the heat on for drywall installation which will begin soon."

The Louis Kamper-designed structure opened in 1928 as the second tallest building in Michigan, housing mainly offices and ground-floor retail. It went vacant in the 1980s and has become one of the city's iconic ruins before Motown Construction Partners began rehabbing the building into a combination of ground floor retail, office space and 125 apartments.

Beal opened up leasing for the Broderick Tower in early November and already has rented out 25 of those apartments. Those leases include the three pricey penthouse apartments that go for $5,000 a month. Beal says about half of all the leases so far are from people working on Quicken Loans-related ventures. He is also planning on having a by-appointment-only showing of the building to perspective tenants on Saturday.

For information on the Broderick Tower, click here.

Source: Stewart Beal, member of Motown Construction Partners and who will serve as the property manager of the Broderick Tower
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

For years, Mike Boulan, the owner of Detroit's No Cover Productions, wanted to expand his offerings beyond the homegrown blues musicians he champions. His new label expands on sound, if not geography.

"The first label was all Detroit blues, so the Detroit focus has always been there," Boulan says. "I've traveled a bit, and everywhere I've went, the music just doesn't really compare to here, where we live. I just like to be part of that. Documenting it is something I've always enjoyed doing."

It took a chance encounter at a blues night hosted by Kelly's Bar in Hamtramck for the idea to take shape -- a Detroit-centric studio and label called Mo' Sound & Light. Boulan found out the bar, which is located across the street from Cafe 1923 on Holbrook, had two empty apartments in the 1890's-era building. The veteran soundman, along with partner Lightshow Bob, have spent the past 10 months remodeling the space --refinishing the floors, hanging posters, creating a lounge and moving in equipment. They've already recorded a potential Buddy Smith commercial for H&R Block and released an album from John Sinclair. This Saturday, Looking Up At Down, who recorded their debut album in the Hamtramck space, will celebrate their opening at the New Way bar in Ferndale.

"I did 130 releases on my first label, and most of the bands I've worked with for the past 15 years have come back for multiple projects," Boulan says. "As a producer, what the artist wants is what I want. I don't try to come in and produce the record and tell them how to do it."

Mo' Sound & Light Productions is located at 2405 Holbrook on the second floor. Call Mike Boulan at (248) 398-6877 or contact him through the No Cover website.

Source: Mike Boulan, co-owner, Mo Sound Studios
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

Major grants to several of Midtown's leaders in creative development, including MOCAD and Tech Town, will use art as an engine for economic growth and local place-making.

MOCAD's $350,000 grant from ArtPlace America, a groundbreaking collaboration of 11 foundations, seven federal agencies and the National Endowment of the Arts, will help renovate the museum's internal offices and public exhibition spaces. Over at Tech Town, the new FAB Lab, which received $90,000 in support from ArtPlace, will offer creatives shared access to specialized and expensive equipment, like 3-D printers, computer-controlled machine tools, industry-leading software and electronic workbenches. Another element is workshop space for the city's roster of woodworkers, photographers and metalsmiths.

Local economic development can come in many forms: more visitors, more spending, more investment, more development, improved brand, more jobs, more income, more jobs for artists, more income for artists," says Carol Coletta, president of ArtPlace. "MOCAD develops local talent by expanding their exposure to art and art buyers, among the other benefits named above. Tech Town is specifically designed to explore how local artists can be supported in the development of their businesses and practices."

Coletta says economic development is traditionally oriented around what she calls "bagging the buffalo" -- that is, securing a big-name employer to move central operations or factories to a city. ArtPlace believes that attracting and retaining local talent is the result of deploying local assets, particularly the arts. Midtown Detroit's significance as a creative corridor and hub for economic activity made locating three ArtPlace grants, worth $1.8 million, within a relatively small district.

"Until you get enough intensity in the area, it is hard to support great places," Coletta says. "That’s why it makes sense to focus so many efforts on one location in Detroit. Then its success can spill over into other areas."

Source: Carol Coletta, president, ArtPlace America
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

For Scott Griffin and Angel Gambino, the co-owners of Corktown's newest business and retail incubation space, redeveloping the old foundry at 2051 Rosa Parks Blvd. "provides a greater context for the neighborhood, increasing and enhancing the visibility" of Detroit's oldest neighborhood.

The Lincoln Brass Works foundry made bullets during World War II -- Griffin calls the 100,000 sq. ft space "an extraordinary example of classic Detroit industrial architecture." The building's eccentric layout, with options ranging from small offices to large, dramatic spaces, makes it perfect for the mixed-use environment envisioned by the owners, who hail from New York. In the six weeks since Gambino and Griffin purchased the building, they've spent their time erasing the improvements the previous owner made to the building. While the previous owner had normalized the spaces into typical office cubicles with carpeting and dropped ceilings, Griffin says they're focused on "undressing the building so the classic architecture shines."

That eye to design has paid off. Griffin says Loveland Technologies, Curbed Detroit and the new Huffington Post have all rented offices inside the foundry. Corktown Cinema is launching its re-imagination (courtesy of Big F Deal) of the art house theater in the building, which Griffin says, "is a tremendous boost to the nightlife in the neighborhood and the greater community." And while he's mum on the details, he says they're negotiating almost 20 office and retail leases in the next week.

Source: Scott Griffin, co-owner
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

A new direct sales company, focusing on providing fitness options women can use at home, has opened in the offices of Tech Town, north of Wayne State University.

Krysalis Fit uses the direct sales model pioneered by companies like Avon or Mary Kay, a scaleable business launched by Bizdom U grads' Jennine Hynes and Dionna Coy. But instead of selling makeup and jewelry, they encourage Krysalis consultants to hawk a healthy lifestyle and exercise equipment. "Krysalis Fit consultants are in business for themselves, not by themselves," said Canoy. "At a time when it's often difficult to find employment, we offer a great way for enterprising women to receive support, connect communities, and have fun doing it." The company is currently hiring consultants and provides training.

Shopping is also online, thanks to the Krysalis company catalog, which offers a variety of resistance training, yoga and exercise equipment, ranging in price from $15-$100. They also print exercise cards with step-by-step instructions, and emphasize that all their workout equipment is meant for the home.

"Many women want to get fit, but most don't make a commitment to healthy living because they don't have time," says Hynes. "We show women it's possible to get in shape by offering exercises and activities they can do at home anytime."

Visit the website for more information.

Source: Jennine Hynes and Dionna Coy, co-founders, Krysalis Fit
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

Delphia Simmons says she has no previous media experience. But as a project manager for the Coalition on Temporary Housing in the Cass Corridor, she learned a lot about the plight of the city's homeless. And after a whirlwind summer, this winner of 2011's Kiva Detroit mini-grant program will launch Thrive Detroit, the city's first street paper, in time for the November charter commission vote.

Street papers, which offer homeless and at-risk entrepreneurs the ability to work as vendors by selling the papers (and keeping the proceeds) are lively additions to the local media scene in cities like Ann Arbor and Boulder, CO. Simmons, working in partnership with the Detroit chapter of the National Association for Black Journalists, Model D (which will share content with Thrive) and community writers, will offer readers a monthly 12-page tabloid-style publication for $1. Vendors purchase the papers for 25 cents each; and keep the proceeds. Simmons and a team of five are currently laying out the issue from their office at COTS headquarters on Peterboro St.

Simmons says Thrive Detroit will provide a niche by spotlighting social justice and community issues. "We'll have information on the charter vote, a relationship column, a movie review, and a story on Occupy Detroit," she says of the debut issue. "There was a wedding down at the Occupy Detroit site in Grand Circus Park, and we were there to shoot it."

Simmons says Thrive Detroit is still waiting for the city to grant the nonprofit street permits for their vendors to sell papers. For now, they will offer subscriptions. She says they're also looking for local businesses which would be willing to host a vendor selling copies on their property. If you're a local business owner who is interested in helping Thrive Detroit see the light, head to their website (you can also provide a donation).

Source: Delphia Simmons, founder, Thrive Detroit
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

For a born-and-bred Ferndale girl like Fotoula Lambros, moving to Detroit is all excitement. And finding out that her Hatch Detroit  venture, The Workroom, is a finalist in the competition for $50,000 didn't hurt. Suffice to say, it's been a busy month for Lambros, who made waves as co-founder of Femilia Couture before launching her own label, Fotoula Lambros Design, this year. And a new line needs new digs, which inspired Lambros to move her home and design studio to Eastern Market's Sugar Lofts.

"This is my first time living in the city, even though I've been around here forever," Lambros says. Though she knew she'd eventually relocate her studio space to Detroit, she says, "I didn't want to make any quick changes while I started my new line." The label celebrates, as Lambros says, ecologically-conscious and multi-functional ready-to-wear that's all Michigan-made.

The 1,500 sq. ft. two-bedroom loft is mostly dedicated to Lambros' emerging business, which will be available to purchase online at fotoulalambrosdesign.com by the 2011 holidays. "I live and work amongst everything," she says of the arrangement. Her long-term goal? Opening a designated studio/office space for FLD in Capitol Park.

"I don't know why I'm so drawn to that area," Lambros says. "That's definitely somewhere where I want to lay my foundation."

Source: Fotoula Lambros, owner, Fotoula Lambros Design
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

Detroit's newest breakfast and brunch joint, located in the space formerly occupied at Detroit Breakfast House and Grill at the Lofts of Merchants Row, is still dedicated to serving fine renditions of a.m. cuisine -- but with a more relaxed attitude than its predecessor.

The Hudson Cafe turns out delectable confections like Graham Cracker Crusted French Toast and Red Velvet Pancakes, but the servers are in jeans and t-shirts. The vibe's more comfortable and less upscale, including cozy additions like a fireplace and cafe bar with free Wi-Fi.

Executive Chef and co-owner Tom Teknos (who studied at NYC's French Culinary Institute) says he and partners Maurice Wiggins and Stavros Adamopoulos wanted to get in on the ground level of Detroit's rebirth.

"We saw a lot of increased foot traffic over the past year," says Teknos. "We spent months and months down here doing demographics research, and we've seen an increase in traffic from Quicken Loans and the Chase Building ... everybody's coming down here."

They also worked with a local marketing firm to come up with the moniker -- surveys showed The Hudson to be a local favorite. "It's a good fit for where we are, since we're obviously across the street from the old Hudson's building, and it was a landmark down here," Teknos says.

The menu emphasizes locally grown products and a commitment to preparing everything in the kitchen; evidenced by one of Teknos' favorite dishes, Huevos Rancheros. "Everyone's taken a liking to it," says Teknos. "We make our ranchero sauce, everything's housemade, from roasting all the tomatillos, ancho chiles, and dried chiles. It takes about two hours to make, start to finish."

"Everything's housemade," Teknos continues. "All our corned beef hash, all our Benedicts, all our gravys ... we feature a daily soup here. We're using a lot of local vendors from Eastern Market ... we take pride in everything we do."

The Hudson Cafe is open from Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with occasional extended evening hours for Lions and Tigers viewing on the big-screen TV. It's located at 1241 Woodward Ave. Call (313) 237-1000 or visit the website for more information.

Source: Tom Teknos, Executive Chef and co-owner, The Hudson Cafe
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

Chicken and waffles was invented in Harlem during the beginning of the Great Depression, but for Aaron Sanders,1998 is the year he was introduced to this iconic soul food dish. But the owner of Heavenly Chicken & Waffles, which recently moved to Greektown, says his mother trained him early for the role of chef.

"My mother told me, Aaron, you're going to be single for a long time," Sanders says. "I don't know why she said that, unfortunately it did come true, but that's what made me started cooking."

With this mantra: simple recipes made excellent, Sanders grew his love for cooking from a small catering operation to an East Side restaurant, which they outgrew quickly enough to merit a Southfield relocation. But when the building Sanders leased was foreclosed this year, Sanders decided to take Heavenly Chicken & Waffles back to Detroit, hiring five employees along the way (they are still currently hiring). The new eatery is located inside Marilyn's American Tavern at 419 Monroe St., within an 1845 building with stained glass and plenty of historic woodworking. Sanders calls the location "iconic."

"We started doing mobile catering while we were looking for a permanent location," says Sanders, a CPA who sent out requests for new locations to all 1200 clients on his mailing list. "I've had 50 different locations to choose from, before finding this beautiful building in Greektown."

As for the name? "They call it 'Heavenly Chicken and Waffles' because it's the best soul food you can get," Sanders says. There's plenty of soul food on the menu beyond the moniker meal, and everything is sourced from Eastern Market, Sanders says -- from the vegetables to the flour used to make the waffles. But be prepared to wait a bit, he cautions -- food that tastes this good takes time.

Heavenly Chicken & Waffles is open Mon-Fri from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sat-Sun from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 313-965-3115 or visit heavenlychickenandwaffles.com for menu and more.

Call it a Mad Men-inspired yearning for the martini hours of yesteryear; or the way the mind creates possibilities after walking past an empty space; or even just a personal dream finally recognized. For those reasons, and more, James Van Dyke says, the Buhl Bar needs to exist in the downtown area's Financial District. Look for this after-work haunt to open its doors in the next two weeks in the historic Buhl Building.

"It's funny," Van Dyke says, "I got into real estate because I originally wanted to open a bar in Detroit, in 2003. So this is kind of coming full circle -- I'm opening a bar after doing real estate in Detroit."

Headed by the Roxbury Group, which recently debuted the Auburn mixed-use project in Midtown, The Buhl Bar will offer 900 sq. ft of throwback glamor in the space which formerly housed Starbuck's Coffee. "We were always lamenting that what Detroit has really lost, in the Financial District, is the idea of the after-work cocktail bar," Van Dyke says. "Each one of the buildings in the district had one. There was a very strong happy hour culture here." He says the success of after-work happy hours at 24 Grille, Fountain Bistro and Roast inspired the Roxbury Group to move forward with plans. Luckily, the old liquor license from the building's original Buhl Bar was held in escrow by the owners, who embraced the concept.

Van Dyke says the 21st century Buhl Bar will achieve an upscale feel while retaining a laid-back vibe, appealing to businesspeople and casual passerby alike. Housed in a former bank lobby, the design is heavy on dark wood, plaster ceilings and crown moldings. Thirteen seats span the bar, while an additional seven seats are available at the window seat. "It happens to be my favorite spot in the bar, because you can sit at the window and watch people pass by on Congress Street," Van Dyke says.

While the cocktail menu is still under wraps, Van Dyke says one aperitif will be inspired by a Buhl building tragedy in the 1980s -- a shootout in an upstairs law firm between a disgruntled client and an attorney. "Hit in the crossfire was a legal clerk named Eve August," Van Dyke says. "My grandmother was actually working on the floor when it happened, and was very close to the people involved. So we wanted to name one of the drinks after Eve August."

Follow the Buhl Bar on Facebook, or swing by 535 Griswold next week for a cocktail.

Source: James Van Dyke, vice-president of development, The Roxbury Group
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

This spring, we brought you the news that Sean Harrington was redeveloping a space in his Iodent Building for Hot Taco, a fast-casual eatery with limited sit-down space. Harrington reports the space is 90 percent built-out, and banking on an October opening. The taqueria has narrowed its focus to a specific genre of tortilla-wrapped cuisine, including plenty of vegetarian options.

"We are doing kind of more Baja Peninsula tacos; we're not competing against the taco truck," Harrington says. "We're doing a blackened shrimp combo with pineapple chutney, for example. These are going to be radical tacos; these are going to be tacos dreamt up by expatriate surfers living on the Baja peninsula."

If that's a tall taco order, the space will reflect Harrington's outside-the-shell vision. Think red, black and stainless steel walls, saddle seats made out of skateboards, and a short bar for dine-in seating. "We will have funky Mexican posters, funky lighting, funky table bases. It goes along with the radical tacos, it’s a radical look."

Harrington says he'll also offer coffee and rotisserie chickens to-go, serving a neighborhood he says is increasingly filled with young professionals. "We live in a neighborhood with a lot of single people; it's a nice thing to have in your fridge," he says. The rotisserie chicken will also supply much of the taco meat. "I think the rotisserie chicken will be the flavor-bomb," Harrington says.

Hot Taco is now hiring. Take your resume (write "Hot Taco" on it) to the Town Pump Tavern at 100 W. Montcalm. And check back to Hot Taco's website soon for the menu and more.

Source: Sean Harrington, owner, Hot Taco
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

Nearly an entire block of Cass Avenue at Canfield will be renovated into a mixed-use green-friendly development offering apartments and retail spaces -- aiding a severely tight rental market in Midtown.

The $12 million Auburn development, which broke ground last week, is being developed by the Roxbury Group and partners Invest Detroit and Midtown Detroit Inc. Fifty eight one-bedroom and studio apartments, beginning at $675, are scheduled to be available by fall 2012. All feature French balconies, individual parking spaces and two shared outdoor common spaces; one with glass garage doors and a built-in outdoor fireplace.

The Auburn was also built with a sensitivity to green design, says Roxbury's James Van Dyke -- Tom Brennan of Second Avenue's Green Garage aided the group in conceiving a building with an environmentally-friendly layout, especially with the Auburn's heating and cooling capabilities. "For example, we've decided use very efficient (and Michigan-made) windows which have double the performance of typical apartment windows," says Van Dyke. "Further, we are planning to install the Mitsubishi City Multi VRF HVAC system which provides for increased modulation and efficiency." Detroit-based Kraemer Design Group is the architect of record for the project.

Thanks to a grant from the Ford Foundation, retail spaces will be "tenant-ready," offering would-be entrepreneurs a lower point of financial entry for opening retail on the Auburn's first floor. Van Dyke says the 11 first-floor spaces will be reserved for  independent retail only.

"It's subsidizing the cost of build-out space, so a local independent retailer could literally come in, and plug their cash register and start selling goods," Van Dyke says. "We're actually going to go out in the marketplace with pretty inexpensive space to try to reduce the capital required for an entrepreneurial retailer to start a new location."

Find out more about the project here.

Source: James Van Dyke, vice president of development, The Roxbury Group
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

Colin Hubbell, who passed away in 2008 after a battle with cancer, was more than a Midtown developer. He was one of the neighborhood's first champions, a true urban visionary who understood that small business owners would help remake the Midtown district into a true community. And, given his experience working in city administration, his consulting and mentoring were invaluable to new entrepreneurs unfamiliar with Detroit's workings.

"He was really helpful with assisting people in small businesses -- he really valued that," says his wife, Trish Hubbell, who began the Hubbell Fund to honor his passion for assisting entrepreneurs.

Carrying on that legacy, the Hubbell Fund announced its latest mini-grants to Midtown area entrepreneurs, contributing primarily facade improvements to several local businesses. People's Records, 14 East and Thistle Coffee Shop all received grants for new signage; security doors will be funded for the Art Center Music School. Bike racks will be built for visitors to the Park Shelton building; employees at Source Booksellers will receive the money to purchase an internet software and hardware system;  These are just a few of almost a dozen grants currently being administered by the Hubbell Fund, with several more grants in the works for 2011.

Hubbell says her husband wouldn't be surprised by the current wave of entrepreneurs staking their claim on Midtown's soil. "This is what Colin kept emphasizing -- you need to get a critical mass, you can start to create buzz, and create a demand," she says. "People really miss community, and small businesses are all about serving your local community."

The Colin Hubbell Fund is currently accepting donations. Find out more about how you can help here.

Source: Trish Hubbell, Hubbel Fund
Writer: Ashley C. Woods

"Most women don't like to dig. They like to shop."

With a boutique setting, an emphasis on personal service and presentation, Rachel Lutz says she plans to open The Peacock Room, offering shoppers a mix of upscale consignment, vintage and new apparel options for men and women, in the lobby space of the Park Shelton this year.

Lutz, a former personal shopper with eight years experience in the luxury fabric industry, debuted the concept with five popular pop-up trunk shows around Detroit this summer. "It's been difficult for me to keep up with demand," she says. "I've already built a following that's eagerly anticipating the opening of the shop."

While Lutz owns that she's always dreamed of opening her own apparel store, she says she was inspired to take action by a study released by the DEGC last year. "The study said that Detroiters spent $200 million on groceries outside the city and $321 million on apparel outside the city," she says. "I'm trying to step up and give a much-needed amenity to people who already live or are considering living in Detroit."

With the help of an architect, retail consultant and designer, she says the 1,000 sq. ft interior space, will be "very well-merchandised, and very beautiful. Because the Park Shelton is a historic building, I want the design to pay homage to the city's history, while bringing the building into the future."

The mix of upscale consignment and new clothing is meant to serve the diverse needs of Midtown's population, she says. "I like that my merchandise will speak to the sophistication of professionals but will also be accessible to a student budget. Midtown offers me that wide-ranging audience," she says. She also plans to stock hard-to-find wardrobe basics at the shop.

The Peacock Room's name, for history buffs like Lutz, also denotes a little-known piece of Detroit history. The Peacock Room, a masterpiece of colorful interior murals, was designed and created by eminent American painter James Abbott McNeil Whistler. The entire room was shipped to Detroit, where it was installed in the mansion of prominent industrialist and art collector Charles Lang Freer on Ferry Street.

Lutz adds that she's excited to join other apparel retailers like Pauline's Closet, The Black Dress, Sole Sisters, GOODS and Flo's Boutique, and looks forward to adding to Midtown's increasing reputation as a retail destination. "The time is right for the neighborhood, the time is right for this kind of business -- it's all coming together at the right time."

The Peacock Room will be located within the lobby of the Park Shelton building at 15. E. Kirby at Woodward (with signage on the building's exterior). A website, peacockroomdetroit.com, will be online soon. In the meantime, become a friend of The Peacock Room on Facebook.

Source: Rachel Lutz, owner, The Peacock Room
Writer: Ashley C. Woods