Development News

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

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

Farmington Hills is the new headquarters of TM Group, a business technology consulting firm that has combined two of its locations into one headquarters designed to foster collaboration, and even fun, among its employees.

The 6,700-square-foot office at the Farmington Hills Corporate Campus at 12 Mile and Halstead roads brings together executive management, sales and marketing, client support, and consulting and developing under one roof.

Their new workplace combines largely naturally lit offices, meeting rooms, a training room, library, media room, contemporary kitchen and a "refresh room" where employes can watch TV, listen to music, play video games or just relax and destress, the company says in a statement announcing the newly designed headquarters.

"May began our 29th year as a highly successful Michigan-based business technology consulting firm – a tremendous milestone of achievement and a great time for us to consolidate in this new corporate headquarters.  We are one of only a handful of Microsoft Dynamics partners worldwide who have nearly three continuous decades with the same management team, product family, and with the most tenured team of certified Dynamics consultants in our area,” says Judy Thomas, president of The TM Group, which calls itself a highly acclaimed provider of Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM solutions.
“We made a special effort to provide a more updated environment for our team and a welcoming environment for our clients, prospects, and visitors.”

Source: Jennifer Swiderski, spokesperson, TM Group and Automation Alley
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

All the eco-conscious bells and whistles that earned Oakland County International Airport a LEED Gold certification are also saving the county money by running at about half the utility costs prior to energy-focused rebuild.

According to Oakland County the new airport operates at 44 percent greater efficiency. From October 2011 through March 2012 the average cost of utilities dropped from 49 cents per square foot to 27.5 cents per square foot.

Features such as wind and solar electricity generators, a solar hot water heater, geothermal heating and cooling, fluorescent and LED lighting and, one of the more obvious for passengers, a living wall of tropical plants that clean the indoor air.

“These are real savings,” Oakland County executive L. Brooks Patterson says in a statement announcing the utility cost analysis. “The energy efficient technology is part of the wow factor business and general aviation travelers encounter when they use the new terminal as their gateway to the region.”

“The airport has a great impact on southeast Michigan,” says Oakland County Director of Central Services J. David VanderVeen. He oversees the airport - the second busiest in Michigan. The airport, which is located in Waterford, underwent a $7.5 million update last August. Airport user fees and federal and state grants covered the cost.

“Nearly every Fortune 500 company flies through here in the course of a year and it has a $175 million impact on the region,” he says.

Source: Bill Mullan, media and communications officer, Oakland County
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

Downtown Birmingham is getting serious about making its already pedestrian friendly downtown just as inviting to bicyclists.

The city turned to Portland and Minneapolis, cities known for leading the way for safe and fun cycling on city streets, for advice and has just started the first phase of a project aimed at encouraging cycling as a viable form of transportation.

The Downtown Bicycle Parking Plan will bring bike racks to 80 spots around downtown.

They will be easy to find, use, high-quality and well distributed, says Jana Ecker, Birmingham's director of planning. These parking areas will be well lit and clear of pedestrians and cars, she says.

“Our goal is to make the City more user-friendly for all modes of transportation,” Birmingham City Manager Bob Bruner says.

The first phase of the three-phase plan, the installation of 45 bike racks, began earlier this month, and will be finished by the end of summer. Phases 1 and 2, which will involve the final installations, signage and some minor infrastructure redesign, will be completed over the next two years.

Source: Jana Ecker, planning director, city of Birmingham
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

What might be downtown Birmingham's most prominent address - a sad sight when award-winnning Forte closed last year after 16 years - is jumping again with the arrival of an out-of-town steakhouse that's eyed Michigan as an expansion spot for awhile.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, which has 13 restaurants in Ohio, New York, Pittsburgh and Florida, brought its high-end service, rich club decor and menu of aged steaks, fish and seafood, to town last week, opening at 201 South Old Woodward.

According to the Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber, the owners have sought a Michigan location for 18 years, and the menu, which features local and company-wide specialties, incorporated metro Detroit into the menu by paying homage to local athletes and celebrities.

The restaurant, which underwent major renovations, is located a block away from the four-star Townsend Hotel and fits the upscale feel of the hotel and the city. The arrival alleviates a prominent vacancy and also creates full-time and part-time jobs.

Source: City of Birmingham, Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber
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