Howrani Studios reintroduces itself with new owner, fresh renovation

Ameen Howrani ran Howrani Studios, a boutique commercial photography studio, for 35 years in the North End until he fell ill in 2005. That's when his son, Ara, started to step in to take over the family business.

Today Ara is in full control of firm, following in the footsteps of his father. However, Ara sees the recent passing of is father as an opportunity for him to reintroduce his family business to Detroit's creative community with a party on Saturday in the recently refurbished studios on 2820 East Grand Blvd.

"We're celebrating," Ara says.

Ameen set up Howrani Studios' shop in the former Jim Handy studio in 1981, rescuing the building from demolition. Ameen also was one of the first developers to create true lofts in the city, creating apartment spaces above the ground floor retail space. Ara has overseen a renovation of the building, such as new landscaping, interior upgrades and redone parking lot.

Ara hopes the newly refurbished space will serve as one more hub for Detroit's creative-based economy. The Detroit Creative Corridor Center, a start-up incubator a few blocks to the west in New Center, is also actively working to grow and establish more creative-based firms in the Woodward Corridor. It's an effort that has also caught Ara's eye.

"I have noticed it in the media," Ara says. "I have also gotten some jobs from it."

Source: Ara Howrani, owner of Howrani Studios
Writer: Jon Zemke

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