Development News

As regional transit authority legislation moves through Lansing, plans are going forward to bring rapid transit to the 27-mile stretch of the Woodward Avenue Corridor from Jefferson Avenue in Detroit to downtown Pontiac.

Several meetings will be hosted by the Woodward Avenue Action Association, the Michigan Suburbs Alliance and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and are part of an "alternative analysis, the first step in the process of developing a transit system," says Richard Murphy, programs director Michigan Suburbs Alliance.

The meetings, especially the comments from attendees, will be folded in with technical data, cost and other considerations, he says, as decisions about the exact route, the technology to be used, the station locations as well as connections to the M-1 Rail Streetcar project, high speed rail service and Complete Streets are wrapped into an overall plan.

"We’ll be talking about the purpose and need for the project…What is it that we need transit to do on Woodward and laying out the roadmap for the rest of the work. Over the course of 2013, we’ll have
additional meetings around major steps in the process," Murphy says.

Upcoming meetings are:

Thursday, December 6, 5-7 p.m., Baldwin Public Library, 300 West Merrill Street, Birmingham.
Tuesday, December 11, 4-6 p.m., Detroit Palmer Park Police Station, 12th Precinct, 1441 W. Seven Mile Road.
Wednesday, December 12, 6-8 p.m., Ferndale Public Library, 222 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale
Saturday, December 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Bowen Senior Center, 52 Bagley Street, Pontiac.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Richard Murphy, programs director, Michigan Suburbs Alliance

You could say that Denise Kulak and her new Birmingham business were raised in a barn.

And it wouldn't be an insult.

FUN STUFF, a small, eclectic boutique that sells affordable jewelry, art, locally-made treats and more, was started, funnily enough, on a lark Up North one recent summer as her husband, sculptor Gary Kulak, set up his business for the summer.

"He was doing his sign for Gary Kulak Sculpture, I said, 'What about me?'  He said, 'What do you want to be?' I said, 'I want to be …and other fun stuff.' Thats how it all started…

The business, if it could be called that at the time, was set up "in my pole barn up north, just to do if for the summer,"

"I literally just threw out a sandwich board sign that said FUN STUFF. I still use it here at the store in Birmingham."

She used her connections from a 25-plus year career in retail to buy the goods she would sell.

"It just worked," she says.

She decided to try it closer to their year-round home in Birmingham. FUN STUFF, which keeps prices low but sells "quality things that I would be proud to give as a gift," opened Oct. 11 in the Adams Square Shopping Center. It's a short walk from the Kulak's home, the sort of commute Kulak has dreamed of for years.

"It's going really well. I've got a lot of traffic. I've seen a lot of people from the neighborhood. I wanted to be community-based and be near my home. I wanted to re-create the whole experience from Up North and do it in my neighborhood" says Kulak, who also sells her husband's signature chair sculptures. His work can be seen throughout Michigan and in other states.

Oddly enough the 200-square-foot store in the Adams Square Shopping Center is even smaller than the 500-square foot pole barn where FUN STUFF was born.

Kulak, who's been laid off from high-level retail jobs three times in 10 years and is a fourth generation retailer, is excited about getting back to what she loves - selling goods - but she's more driven to make the shop a place for socializing and getting to know locals.

Kulak is a master's degree candidate from Walsh College and is also a beneficiary of a business start-up program offered by the Walsh College Wayne State University Blackstone Launchpad, which is funded by the Blackstone Charitable Trust Foundation and is a partnership with the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, Automation Alley and the University of Miami.

Launchpad gave Kulak - and other entrepreneurs enrolled at Walsh and Wayne State - advice and assistance in starting the business, including feasibility studies, business plans and more.

Kulak is grateful, but again, this is a business she wants based on relationships, friendships with some salesemanship thrown in.

"I want this to be a place where every product has a story and every customer shares one…It's not just about selling stuff….It's about the woman who comes in here 2,3 times a week, tells a joke, a story or shares something important to her."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Denise Kulak, owner, FUN STUFF

Two Floridians lured to Michigan by the University of Michigan and the special degree she could obtain there, have not only decided to stay in Michigan after falling in love with Clawson but have opened an art gallery that wants to show off the unexpected talents of Michigan artists.

Maple Arcade opened last week at 38 E. 14 Mile Road in downtown Clawson after months of frustrating renovations but high hopes that the cool and quality vibe of downtown Clawson will let their gallery join the success stories of Clawson establishments like Leon & Lulu and Noble Fish.

Maple Arcade owner Jeffrey Bowman and his wife, Emily, moved to Michigan from Florida two and a half years ago so that she could work on a master of science information degree at U-M. She works as an information architect at Organic Inc.

"We both really liked Ferndale..It's more of a younger type thing, more art, music," he said. "But we couldn't find the house with the yard we wanted. I didn't even know about Clawson…I thought it was Royal Oak. We found this awesome house..
And after they started exploring "we fell in love with the place instantly…We started to eat at the restaurants, got know the owners, got to know the mailman and instantly got to know like six neighbors," he recalled.

The weekend after they moved, during the citywide garage sale, they strolled around the block and saw the vacant spot that would become Maple Arcade, which takes its name from Maple (for their dog, not the street) and from the time when arcade was also a place that housed artwork.

"We live a few blocks from the downtown strip," Bowman said. When we saw this place, I was like, 'look at this cool little place. Wouldn't it be awesome for a store?' "

A few months later they bought it and began the renovations to make it a showcase for all kinds of art. He is a painter himself and has sold works around the country.

"What I'm trying to do here is open a gallery of Michigan based artists and give a more out of the box type of place, not your standard, the stuff you expect to see," he says. "A lot of people who come in here, their first thing is, "Ooooh." Thats the kind of thing you want…You want things that people haven't seen."

Currently artist Zack Green's work is on display.

His bigger plans as he makes more connections with artists are to attract visitors to a multidimensional gallery, where they participate in podcasts with artists, see artists at work.

"We'll have the freedom to shut the shop dow, change it up," he said. "We want this to be a different kind of experience that's about the great art we have here."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Jeffrey Bowman, owner, Maple Arcade

Mount Clemens is the latest city to offer pay by phone parking, a service that can make parking - and visiting and shopping and such - easier and more convenient.

The installation of Parkmobile meters means no more coins are necessary - just an app that can be used on iPhones, Androids, Windows 7 and Blackberry smartphones.

The app can be loaded by phone or online, and once registered users can pay to park at meters anywhere through a Parkmobile Mobile Payment Parking Solution account using the app, the internet or a toll-free number. Parkmobile offers other features such as reminders when parking time will expire.

It's all to spare visitors, customers, employees time spent scrounging for coins and paying for parking tickets. Finding parking and keeping meters plugged can be a challenge in downtown Mount Clemens, the site of the busy Macomb County courthouse and the city's central business district.

“The new Parkmobile system is just another innovative step the city of Mount Clemens has taken to assist our visitor with convenient hassle free parking, “said Mount Clemens Mayor Mayor Dempsey says.

Mount Clemens is the seventh Michigan city to go with Parkmobile meters. Dearborn, South Haven, Ferndale, Birmingham, Petoskey and Grand Rapids have all joined Parkmobile as well.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority

City Kitchen in downtown Grosse Pointe is nearing completion on an expansion that will more than double the space of its bar which is big draw for the restaurant that opened six years ago.

After years of standing room only crowds at the "upscale yet casual" bar owner Chick Taylor decided to move into space that became vacant next door.

City Kitchen's expansion is one of several changes coming to Kercheval Avenue, the main street through The Village shopping district.

In the same block as City Kitchen a hair salon is opening in the space formerly occupied by Gap, which closed in January. Across the street a creperie and bakery, Sweet Little Sheila's opened in October.

Down the street an occupant for the closed Borders store has yet to be found, but city officials say other nearby development, including the Neighborhood Club and Beaumont Hospital's Health and Wellness Center, which will include a community fitness center and pool and will open in January, could spin off business for the business district.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: City of Grosse Pointe

The Hill business district in Grosse Pointe Farms, a stretch of stately architecture dominated in recent years by financial firms, is taking a step in a new direction with the opening of an upscale shoe and accessories store.

Capricious, located at 74 Kercheval Avenue, may help to liven up the strip of Kercheval Avenue that has lost retail shopping options in the last several years. In their place have come secure, but quiet offices, primarily for financial companies.

Behind the business - as well as others that have brought life and variety to The Hill, is Gretchen Valade, an heir to the Carhartt clothing fortune and founder of Jazz music label, Mack Avenue Records. Valade has been called the savior of Detroit's free jazz music festival since she bailed it out with a big donation. Her philanthropy is generous and widespread. And more and more she is making her name as a Pointer who gives back to her community by investing in new, quality businesses.

They include the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, a supper club and jazz venue on The Hill that attracts top names and puts out an award-winning menu.

A few doors down is Morning Glory, a bakery and coffee house and after-dinner drink spot, that has built a solid customer base since opening in the summer of 2011.

Just across the street is Capricious, the new shoe store that will sell high-end brands as well as jewelry, scarves, belts and other accessories from a store decorated to convey posh. Capricious gives Pointers a destination that may keep them in the Pointes rather than heading to Somerset Collection in Troy for a shopping fix.


The grand opening of Capricious, which is creating at least three full-time jobs, is Nov. 15.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Dawn Mitchell, assistant store manager

Zach Peterlin and Kim Decapite are in the dating phase of their relationship, but they've already figured out how to marry their experience into a restaurant and bar in Farmington.

Peterlin's Restaurant & Bar opened about six months ago at the corner of Farmington Road and 9 Mile "and it's been even better than we thought. You never know. Starting a business is a big gamble," Peterlin says.

He says the reasons the customers are coming have to do with value for fresh-made food, customer service that is as much a business cornerstone as the menu, and with backgrounds that he and Decapite bring to the table.

Peterlin, an honors graduate in hospitality management from Northern Michigan University and an experienced chef in corporate and independent restaurants, brings a passion for original and creative foods.

Decapite, with her experience in fine food shops such as Alban's Bottle & Basket in Birmingham and for the last eight years at Joe's Produce and Gourmet Market in Livonia, has perfected a face-to-face, customer-comes-first attitude.

"It's hard to compete with the Subways and Little Caesars and their $5 meals. But it's all processed," Peterlin says. "I think we've found the right price point and we have the quality."

Peterlin also brought with him customers he had cultivated while working as a chef for other restaurants. They chose to open in Farmington because they live there and because they knew there was market potential, he says.

Peterlin and Dicapite met during a food and wine pairing course, and decided about a year ago to go into business for themselves.

"I had gone to work for J Alexander's right out of school and learned a lot. But I wanted to try to the independent thing. So I went to work for smaller, independents. I found out I like doing the independent thing, being creative and doing something that's special, Peterlin explains. "We think we've hit the right combination: a good price point, fresh food, great customer service. In these times you have to give people value and you have to give them what's going make them come back."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Zach Peterlin, co-owner, Peterlin's Restaurant & Bar

As efforts to improve passenger rail service between Pontiac and Jackson and Washtenaw and Livingston counties plugs along refurbished commuter rail cars are being tested on Amtrak lines.

Six bi-level, stainless steel cars, refurbished at a cost of $310,000 each by Owosso-based Great Lakes Central Railroad, came from Illinois and will eventually be used on the proposed Detroit-to-Ann Arbor line that is being planned by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and on the WALLY line between Livingston and Washtenaw counties, a project of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

The refurbished cars were previously used by METRA, the northeast Illinois community rail system. They were paid for with federal and state grant from Departments of Transportation that are pushing commuter rail improvements as economic and community development.

Funding for the proposed commuter rail services is not yet lined up, but the testing is a step in the process to obtain funding.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Janet Foran, Communications, Michigan Department of Transportation

A much-watched restaurant project in downtown Rochester keeps going deeper into history as its owners build an new eatery that maintains ties to the building's past.

Owners Jason Mood and Chris Johnson had hoped to open The Meeting House in October, but they decided to go ahead with bigger plans to renovate both floors of the 1880s-era building at 301 S. Main Street rather than just the first. They are also seeing how painstaking preservation can be but expecting it to pay off as the historical features of the 1880s era building are uncovered and highlighted.

Construction began last summer, which was the start of a dream for the two former staffers of Beverly Hills Grill. Mood was a host, Johnson a chef.

Kristi Trevarrow, executive director of the Rochester Downtown Development Authority, says the renovation is impressive and "It's pretty phenomenal what they've found there and what they've worked through," she says. They've worked with historic committee people and discovered many interesting things. Its a really cool project. It's been challening, but it's been so good."

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

Little lice - and the families who so desperately want to get rid of them - are responsible for the big growth of the Rapunzel's Lice Boutique, which opened its fourth salon last week in Farmington Hills.

Owner Sarah Casello-Rees, who opened the first boutique in Ann Arbor in 2009, says, "We've been doubling our growth every year."

Sure the ipads, lego tables and TVs have attracted notice for the family-oriented salons but for Rapunzel's growth has come because those pesky head bugs have built up a resistance to traditional treatments and parents want to avoid pesticides to treat a problem that can consume hours, days, weeks, looking for lice and picking nits.

The determined removal specialists at Rapunzel's use a heat treatment and manual removal, a one-time process that is guaranteed.

Rapunzel's started as a mobile operation called the Lice Brigrade in 2008.

"When we opened our first boutique we thought the name was a little too militaristic. We wanted something more comforting," says Casello-Rees.

About 15 employees work for the company and there are more job openings for removal technicians who are paid $25-$35 an hour.

Rapunzel's recently started offering a benefits package to employees.

"As an owner of the company we strive to offer outstanding customer service to the families…and what's equally important is being a good employer," Casello-Rees says.

Employees receive health care coverage and a retirement plan.

"When we started in 2008 we were at the lowest point in our economy, so to do this is no small feat…I call it a recession proof business because people are always willing to pay to get ride of their parasites," says Casello-Rees. "

The Farmington Hills location on Farmington Road opened in response to the large number of Oakland County customers traveling to other shops in other counties.

Besides the Ann Arbor location, which is on Plymouth Road, there are boutiques in Sterling Heights on Metro Parkway and in Grand Rapids.

"It's just like a salon…The only difference is we don't cut hair or wash hair….Licensed hair sons can't treat head lice or service customers with lice," she says. "The hair industry is thrilled we are here….That's where we a get lot of referrals."

And with all the amenities, "the kids love coming there."

"They sometimes ask to come back," she says. "Usually the parents aren't too keen on that."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Sarah Casello-Rees, owner Rapunzel's Lice Boutique

Construction is more than halfway complete for a new brewpub that is expected to open in March in Birmingham's Rail District.

Even before all the walls are up, however , Griffin Claw Brewing Co. is holding tastings to highlight the bread and butter of its business - its Big Rock Chophouse brews from brewmaster Dan Rogers. The latest tasting of Roger's award-winning IPA came with a construction update.

The 12,000-square-foot facility is being build on Eton Street. Brewing and distribution will take place on site, and there will be a tasting roo and outdoor garden to complement the restaurant.

On Nov. 1, Big Rock Chop House sold and shipped its massive 15-barrel copper tank system to a brewing in Lexington, Kentucky. In December, Griffin Claw will receive new brewery equipment from Kraft Werks in Lake Orion.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Jaclyn Robinson, JT Marketing Group

Ferndale is embarking on a major overhaul of West 9 Mile in downtown, part of a project that will take care of maintenance, such as updating underground infrastructure. The investment will also address a neglected part of downtown by creating a place that's inviting, walkable, safe and ready for economic development.

The project, affectionately dubbed "How The West Was One," is expected to run from April to September 2013 and give attention to the stretch of West 9 Mile from Planavon to Pinecrest.

The finished product will be a new road that's narrowed from five lanes to three and that's painted with bike friendly sharrows (sharing arrows). There will be wider sidewalks, a new water main, a streetscape with benches, trash and recycling containers, 60 trees and perennial beds and sidewalk and on-street bike corrals, new lighting and more crosswalks.

The $1.1 million construction project is a cooperative effort between the Ferndale Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ferndale.

The streetscape portion of the project was developed by the DDA and has been a work in progress for more than ten years. Last summer, the DDA won a Transportation Enhancement grant to cover nearly half of the cost.

In October, the Ferndale City Council voted to match the grant.

“This project, and the city’s investment in it, is critical to the improvement of a long-neglected section of our Downtown,” said Cristina Sheppard-Decius, executive director of the Ferndale DDA. “Private redevelopment follows public investment. The City Council’s commitment is exactly the kind of leadership that will kick start a great future for that end of town and all of Ferndale."

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Chris Hughes, Ferndale Downtown Development Authority

Oxford has become Oakland County's first community to offer free wireless service across its downtown.

The Wireless Oakland initiative, which sought to set up wireless service in all of Oakland County downtowns as an economic stimulus, has been revived and scaled back after the original plan developed in 2005 "fell victim to recession when private investors backed out," Bill Mullan, a spokesman for the county, says in a news release announcing Oakland Township's going wireless.

Internet Provider Air Advantage is providing the wireless coverage in exchange for access to some of the county's strategically placed communications towers. Air Advantage will also offer competitively priced, wireless broadband services to northern and western parts of the county where there is no such service.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Bill Mullan, spokesman, Oakland County

A public relations firm that formed when a group of freelancers decided to bring their skills together under one roof is hosting an unveiling party to celebrate the collaboration, business successes and the school that guided the firm's founder to the postion she's in.

Element, a public relations and marketing firm, has four full-time employees working out of its office on Old Woodward and Maple in downtown Birmingham. Co-founder Eric Scott is a graduate of the Eton Academy in Birmingham, a school that serves students with learning disabilities and other special needs. Scott and his colleagues wanted to pair Element's grand opening party with a thank-you for Eton.

So from 4-7 p.m. on Nov. 15 at David Wachler jewelers in Birmingham Element is hosting a party where Element and Eton are the centerpieces. Element, which in part guides clients through digital media optimization and messaging, is located upstairs from David Wachler.

"We're looking to connect downtown Birmingham with the mission of Eton Academy," Element spokesperson Alexis Smith says.

There will be live entertainment and a video that tells the stories of Eton students struggles and challenges and coming through them - just as Eric Smith has. Fox Grill from Bloomfield Hills will cater.

"Without Eton Academy a thriving PR firm like ourselves wouldn't be in existence," she said.

Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Alexis Smith, Element PR

The final touches are being put on the massive rebuild of Main Street in downtown Rochester.

Kristi Trevarrow says the project, which rebuild the road, the infrastructure under it, sidewalks and more, will be done Nov. 23 in time for the start of holiday shopping.

Currently, trees, decorative fencing, benches and street signs are going in - the last of the work.

While the project has been a headache and hassle for some business owners and locals, amazingly, Trevarrow says, downtown's occupancy rate is higher than before construction.

Although about four businesses closed during the project, she says, more have moved in or expanded, bringing the occupancy rate to 97 percent.

Pre-construction that number was 95 percent, she says.

"We've had a lot of people who came in saying they want to start a business. They say, 'We knew before that this is a great place to be, and now we with all the improvements we want to get in before anyone else.' "

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