If you had any doubt that Ann Arbor was a unique place to live then riddle us this: Name another Metro Detroit community that has its own reptile zoo. Nestled along Jackson Road you'll find the Great Lakes Zoological Society, a place that's home to over 100 scaly critters - including a 19-foot-long python.
After working in the auto repair business in Brighton for five years and studying the trade at Washtenaw Community College, Warren Terrell decided it was time to open his own shop. With a specialization in working on Subaru and Volvo vehicles, Ann Arbor seemed like an idea location. "It's so close to downtown and right in the neighborhood here with houses all around it," Terrell says of his Water Hill Motors on Miller Ave., which opened less than two months ago. The shop offers a broad range of auto repair services, including everything from engine repair to oil changes. In addition to Subaru and Volvo, Terrell says he's worked extensively on American-made cars, especially late-model Mustangs. Though he opened the shop quietly, he says business is already doing well. "For no adverting it's been good," he says. "Last week was slow, but the week before I was at full capacity." Terrell intends to add up to two additional technicians to the Water Hill Motors staff over the next couple of months as his business continues to grow. He hopes to develop a clientele for high performance modifications at the two-bay auto shop. Source: Warren Terrell, Water Hill Motors Writer: Natalie Burg
In downtown Ann Arbor, there's a pretty big gap between a start-up with a couple of employees and one that is ready to sign an expensive, multi-year lease for a commercial space. The ever-busy Ann Arbor SPARK Central incubator is now giving their tenants the chance to better bridge that gap with the addition of 2,500 square feet of space dedicated to "stage two" startups. "If I have eight employees, but I know I'm going to have 20 a year form now, it's hard for me to find a commercial lease," says Bill Mayer, business accelerator director for SPARK. "What the expansion allows is space for someone who secures external revenue, has four to five full-time equivalent employees, and they're getting too big for our stage one incubator." SPARK Central has long been continually at full capacity. It's original footprint, which is now its stage one area, provides 14 desks for tenants, some of which use multiple desks. The new stage two space has an open office place and can hold about 30 workers. Two companies are already working in the new space, and Mayer expects two more to move in next week, filling it to capacity. "This falls into one of those good-problem-to-have categories," says Mayer, "but our goal is to have our companies graduate. We don't want them to have a residency with us this longer than 12 to 18 months." Transformation is also afoot at the SPARK East incubator in Ypsilanti, where a large conference room has been renovated into co-working facility. SPARK will continue to hold events and host community groups in the same space. Source: Bill Mayer, SPARK Writer: Natalie Burg
From freestyle play to disciplined martial arts instruction, the options for having fun at 1834 Whittaker Rd. in Ypsilanti are aplenty. The pair of businesses now open in the location, The Jungle Gym and Master Lockman Academy, are both owned and operated by a familiar name in local martial arts training, Brandon Lockman of the Dexter academy of the same name. "We have a really good staff in Dexter and I don't really need to be there as much," Lockman says. "I live in the Ypsilanti area, so I figured it would be nice to have a place here." As an ideal location for a second Master Lockman Academy location happened to have a recently closed play place and café inside, the opportunity to open both businesses presented itself and Lockman took it. After replacing the flooring in the martial arts studio, the dual businesses opened in the 4,200 square foot location on Aug. 15. As it turns out, the two businesses are a great match. "Martial arts is geared toward all ages, but children really benefit," says Lockman. "There is a character development aspect that they walk away with. The two businesses kind of complement each other." Lockman currently employs a staff of six at the new businesses and offers parents wifi, snacks and drinks at The Jungle Gym while the kids play. With a smaller play structure than other similar area businesses, Lockman says parents can rest easy having a direct line of sight on their kids at all times. What's more, the padded equipment makes it easier on parents' knees so they can get in on the fun too. During non-class times at the Lockman Master Academy, birthday parties and special events may be held in the studio adjacent to the play area. Lockman says he hopes to offer character development camps for kids next summer. Source: Brandon Lockman, The Jungle Gym and The Master Lockman Academy Writer: Natalie Burg
The future is looking bright for a renovation project intended to light a fire under the development of S. Fourth Ave. in downtown Ann Arbor. The plan to transform the four-storefront building formerly known as Town Center Plaza into a five-and-half story residential and commercial property has gained approval from Ann Arbor's Historic District Commission. "I believe this project is going to ignite many other opportunities on the Fourth Ave. block," says developer Joe Barbat of Barbat Holdings. "A development of this magnitude will propel many others. However, most importantly, the idea of having residents live in the area offers many extraordinary opportunities." The redevelopment plan will add three-and-a-half stories, including 32 one- and two-bedrrom residential units to the building. Barbat calls the units "beautifully designed," and each will include a balcony. The building, now referred to as the Montgomery Building, has been known as the home of Bandito's and the now-closed Eastern Accents. Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase has already signed on to relocate in the building's basement. As for the remaining commercial spaces, Barbat says he's received interest in the spaces but has not signed any leases. "We are hoping to attract casual food users or even a specialty market," he says. "The units are planned for a complete makeover." A timeline for the project is undetermined, though Barbat hopes to have the project completed by the end of 2014. Source: Joe Barbat, Barbat Holdings Writer: Natalie Burg
By this time next year, a new white building adorned in Jiffy Mix-blue detailing will join Chelsea Milling Company's campus. After standing vacant for a number of years, a former book bindery purchased by the baking mix company is now slated to receive $4.4 million in renovations to become a new, temperature controlled food storage facility. "The city owned the building since the early 2000s," says Vice President and General Manager of Chelsea Milling Company Jack Kennedy. "We bought it several years ago because we thought it would make a fine warehouse." A Brownfield Redevelopment Plan will help to defray a portion of the redevelopment costs, as chemicals once used in the book binding process created environmental contamination of the site. Kenney estimates $375,000 of the $4.4 million project will be saved through the incentive. Initial work on the portions of the project not impacted by the Brownfield Plan have begun. Kennedy anticipates the 7,500 square foot warehouse will be complete by the beginning of 2014's busy season for Jiffy Mix, which begins in September. "The Brownfield portion of the project isn't a huge amount of money, but it makes us feel good that we'll be returning this to the tax rolls," says Kennedy. "By cleaning up the environmental issues, we're glad to be doing something for the community." The new food storage facility will take over the role of off-site storage currently leased by Chelsea Milling Company. The consolidation of their food storage locations on-site will not only be more convenient for the company, but will also create three new jobs at the facility. Source: Jack Kennedy, Chelsea Milling Company Writer: Natalie Burg
After a year and $5 million worth of investment, the Holiday Inn on Plymouth Rd. in Ann Arbor looks and feels like a whole new place. "We literally touched every surface in the hotel," says Joe Sefcovic, general manager for the Holiday Inn Near the University of Michigan. "We completely remodeled the exterior of the hotel, as well as inside." Renovations extended into every guest room, a completely refurbished lobby, including a 24-hour pantry store and business center, a newly renovated ballroom and more. According to Sefcovic, the renovations were inspired by the beginning of the hotel's third 10-year agreement with Holiday Inn. "They came in and told us some of the things we needed to do," says Sefcovic. "We took that opportunity to say, 'What kind of things would we like to do differently?' We really tailored the hotel to serve the community for the next 10 years." The upgrades even included a total renovation and rebranding of the hotel restaurant, now called Guy Hollerin’s Ann Arbor Bar & Grill. No longer a sports bar, the restaurant will feature new menu items including healthier dishes as well as gluten free and vegan options. The Holiday Inn and Guy Hollerin's Ann Arbor Bar & Grill grand re-opening was marked with a blues-themed celebration last week. The festivities continue online, where a contest to name the hotel's new mascot – a wood-carved wolverine – will be open to the public for the next several weeks. Source: Joe Sefcovic, Holiday Inn Writer: Natalie Burg
A new business on Fourth Ave. is bringing a new kind of yoga and massage services to downtown Ann Arbor. Shakti Yoga and Massage specializes in massage for spinal injuries and desk workers, as well as incorporates community outreach into their business. "It's been going really well," says co-owner Leah Kasle of the new business. "Our yoga classes are growing. We just did a Groupon, and I had a quite few people buy massage packages right after using it." A former massage therapist for the University of Michigan, Kasle partnered with yoga instructor Nicole Teufel to expand her clientele. They were drawn to the 1,300 square foot space on Fourth Ave. after looking for about six months. "We got really lucky when we found this space," Kasle says. "It is a little bit small for Nicole's student body, but it has a storefront, and it's on a first floor." Kasle's massage techniques focus on spinal and rotator cuff injuries, as well as aches and pains common among those who work at desks for long periods of time. Two additional massage therapists and one additional yoga instructor work for Shakti Yoga and Massage. The studio celebrated its grand opening two weeks ago. In addition to massage and yoga classes Shakti Yoga and Massage offers free self-defense classes for women in need. Source: Leah Kasle, Shakti Yoga and Massage Writer: Natalie Burg
Entrepreneurs Kendra Wilkins and Katrina Vaughn are out to prove that anyone can enjoy the fun and artistic expression of being a painter – with or without proven art skills. At their new business, The Paint Station, patrons can join classes or arrange painting events with friends during which an artist leads attendees through the process of completing a painting. "I haven't painted since elementary school," says Vaughn, pointing to a lovely painting she completed in one of her business' classes. "I'm surprised by my own talent. If I can do it, you can too." Though not artists themselves, Wilkins and Vaughn know a thing or two about business and teaching. Wilkins has taught business marketing for Detroit Public Schools and in Ann Arbor, and Vaughn currently teaches social studies for Ann Arbor Tech High School. "Teaching economics, I talk to the kids about the economy and business," says Vaughn. "Instead of just talking about it, I thought we should do it ourselves." The Paint Station opened above Panera Bread on Washtenaw Ave. on Sept. 6. The partners work with three artists who instruct the classes and parties. People can choose between attending a pre-scheduled class in which the painting has already been chosen, or, if scheduling a private event, they may select a painting from The Paint Station gallery. Wilkins and Vaughn hope the Ann Arbor area finds the paint studio to be a fun place to create and make memories. Their private events are ideal for girls' nights out, team-building sessions for businesses and family outings. Eventually, the pair would like to expand to multiple locations and franchise their business. Source: Kendra Wilkins and Katrina Vaughn, The Paint Station Writer: Natalie Burg
A historic preservationist and land preservationist walk into a farm... No, it's not the set-up for a joke. It's a partnership between two disciplines dedicated to keeping Michigan's culture and history alive. EMU researchers and students teamed with the Up North Conservancy to not only restore but continue working the fields on a 200-year-old family farm on the Leelanau Peninsula.
Our Partners
Common Ground Is Brewing
Support local stories and receive our signature roast straight to your door when you join at the Standard level (or above).
Drink Better, Read Local
