Natalie Burg

Natalie Burg's Latest Articles

Plum Market brings second store to Ann Arbor, 125 new jobs

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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January 21, 2015

A new grocery store planned for the former Cleary University property on Plymouth Rd. will be a familiar sight for many Ann Arbor shoppers. Plum Market, the Farmington Hills-based grocer that opened their first Ann Arbor location in 2008, aims to open the doors on a second area location in the space this fall.  “This location will be the most exciting Plum Market yet!,” says CEO & Co-Founder of Plum Market Matt Jonna. “We have previously operated a store in this area, so we think of this as a homecoming and are very excited to return to the neighborhood with Plum Market.” The new location will indeed be very nearby the former Merchant of Vino Marketplace, which was owned by Jonna’s father. The family’s Plum Market venture, which now operates four locations in Michigan and Illinois, is known for its commitment to local, fresh and sustainable produce. And their plans for growth won’t stop with the new Ann Arbor location. “We plan to grow in the Midwest and continue to offer our guests the best selection of natural, organic, specialty, and local products,” Jonna says. “We are also opening a new location inside the Detroit Metropolitan Airport this fall.” The new Plum Market will be 25,000 square feet. The company expect to employ 125 workers at the location when it opens this fall.  Source: Matt Jonna, Plum Market Writer: Natalie Burg

5 tough questions with Ypsilanti City Council member Lois Richardson

By Natalie Burg

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General

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January 21, 2015

There has been a lot of discussion lately about Ypsilanti's relationship with and to Ann Arbor, particularly when it comes to affordable housing. Concentrate chats with Lois Richardson, a seven-term Ypsilanti city council member, about housing, crime and current perceptions about her beloved community.

Maize and Blue Deli plans second location on Main and Liberty

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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January 14, 2015

Fans of S. University's Maize and Blue Deli will have something new to cheer about on Main Street this spring. Coming in early March will be the longtime restaurant's second location on the other end of downtown.  "We were trying to expand and we thought it was a great marketing opportunity to be right on Main Street," says Maize and Blue Deli's Hamsah Sukkar. "Honestly, it doesn't get better than Main and Liberty." Work on the 1,600 square foot space has already begun. As the restaurant owners are starting with a completely empty space, there's much to do to transform a portion of the building once occupied by the Selo/Shevel Gallery into a deli.  According to Sukkar, the deli will be very similar in both look and menu to the original Maize and Blue Deli location. He hopes the appeal of the locally-owned eatery will be as strong on Main Street as it has been on S. University. "I'm a local, Ann Arbor resident trying to expand in my city, and hopefully we'll get some businesses supporting us," he says. "We're not a big franchise, so we're hoping to see a lot of local interest." The new deli will seat between 50 and 55 diners and Sukkar estimates he will initially employ between five and 10 workers at the new restaurant.  Source: Hamzah Sukkar, Maize and Blue Deli Writer: Natalie Burg

Three sisters, one new wedding-focused studio in downtown Ann Arbor

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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January 14, 2015

Julie Hill and her sisters Hannah Butler and Whitney Keeler have three distinct talents, and yet they've found a way to combine them into one business. Imagine Three Beauty Studio opened in November on E. Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor, offering what each sister does best: event hair styling, photography and makeup services.  "We are just taking three of our talents and going with it," says Hill, who is the hairstylist of the trio. "If I'm working with clients, my sister can meet with her photography clients here, and they can see the work and flow of what we do on a daily basis." Weddings are a natural fit for Imagine Three Beauty Studio, which offers a trio of needed services to brides and their wedding parties. Prior to opening their studio together late last year, Hill, Butler and Keeler met with wedding clients in a rented room, but the full studio allows them to expand their services and expose clients to each others' work. Though they specialize in weddings, they cater to an array of events.  "We did a New Year's special," says Hill. "And through that, we ended up meeting two people who are getting married in the next year. Word spreads that way." In addition to offering hair, makeup and photography services, Imagine Three Beauty Studio specializes in natural, organic, vegan and gluten-free products for clients with an interest or need in specialty hair products or makeup. They also plan to offer makeup and hair classes. In addition to the three sisters, the studio employs a client services coordinator, and Hill hopes to add another stylist and makeup artist in the near future.  Source: Julie Hill, Imagine Three Writer: Natalie Burg

Mother and daughter open Très Beau Salon in Manchester

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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January 7, 2015

After Manchester residents and mother-daughter duo Carrie Neff and Brianna Bulley had been working in the hair industry for a number of years, they decided it was time to branch out. This fall, just the right spot opened up for them in downtown Manchester.  "It was the perfect opportunity and we went for it," says Bulley. "It's been great. We've been really busy." Trés Beau Salon opened on Nov. 1 after about a month of renovation to the space. According to Bulley, the women modernized the space, exposing the building's brick walls and removing an old ceiling. Their stylish space reflects their philosophy on hairstyles.  "We keep up on the trends and try to go to hair shows and classes to stay up-to-date with the newest techniques," Bulley says. "Education is really important to us." With a busy clientele already, the women are already looking toward growth. In the short term, Bulley would like to hire another stylist in the next few months. Eventually, she hopes to add spa services to the growing salon.  Source: Brianna Bulley, Trés Beau Salon Writer: Natalie Burg

Church-backed coffee shop and craft beer bar to open in Ypsilanti

By Natalie Burg

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Community Development

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January 7, 2015

Coming this spring, Ypsilanti residents and visitors will have a new place to sip a cup of joe, meet with like-minded people and fill up on craft beer, all thanks to a local church. Though churches and bars aren't typically in business together, the forthcoming Cultivate is set to break the mold. The social enterprise, backed by Grace Ann Arbor Church, will offer drinks, snacks and community connections, but not, says director Ryan Wallace, any type of agenda.  "The church is the people. And the first thing that people are called to do is to create good in the world," says Wallace. "The whole point of this is how do we love our community?" For Cultivate, creating good includes having a transparent business model and open books, as well as hosting community events, sourcing locally, creating a community garden, supporting clean water efforts worldwide and more. It also means offering patrons genuinely good products. "The team we have gathered is obsessed with quality," Wallace says. "We want to make sure that we have the best service and products. They need to be excellent." The public will be able to test that quality this spring. Now under renovations, the 2,400 square foot Depot Town location is set to open for coffee on May 1, with the bar operations to follow in the summer. Wallace estimates Cultivate will employ, in addition to its current three staff members, up to six part-time staff. Its web presence, including a website, Facebook and Instagram accounts, will launch this Friday.  Source: Ryan Wallace, Cultivate  Writer: Natalie Burg

Local pharmacy to open in Downtown Ypsilanti storefront

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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December 17, 2014

Clark Pharmacy on Washtenaw Ave. in Ann Arbor has long taken a service-oriented approach to healthcare. The business delivers prescriptions to clients' homes or caretakers free of charge, and works with service organizations throughout Washtenaw County to extend services to low-income individuals. That approach has led to growth, which has prompted the opening of a new location in downtown Ypsilanti.  "We ran a report and found that about 60 percent of our clients live in Ypsilanti," says pharmacist and co-owner Nathan Worthing. "We found it was a favored market from an investment standpoint as well." That's why, for the last three to four months, Worthing and Ed Salamen, also a pharmacist and co-owner, have been working to renovate the former Angel Food Catering location in downtown Ypsilanti. The interior and exterior renovations have gutted and rebuilt the 4,000 square foot building, which had been vacant for a couple of years. The large amount of space, says Salamen, will be put to good use.  "We are planning on expanding our services," he says. "We are in the works of making some business decisions to help make us more accessible to the community. It's a valued service we're providing. The new Clark Pharmacy is set to open soon after the first of the year. The Ypsilanti location will initially employ two pharmacists, a technician and two drivers, and the owners plan to hire an additional technician to help with their expanded services. The pharmacy will be the business partners' third, as they also own a location in Wayne.  Source: Nathan Worthing and Ed Salamen, Clark Pharmacy Writer: Natalie Burg

Babo Market expands with 2 new locations in Nickels Arcade and on Boardwalk Dr.

By Natalie Burg

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Arts & Culture

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December 17, 2014

It's been a busy year for babo, A Market by Sava. After opening babo: Farm Fresh Meals to Go on Boardwalk Dr. in late November, the Savco Hospitality company is launching babo: Real Food Fast in Nickels Arcade. Both locations will offer grab-and-go food options.  "People have busy, hectic lives," says Joanne Navarre with marketing and public relations for Savco Hospitality. "The grab-and-go concept at babo makes it easier for people to have healthy meals and snacks." In addition to offering grab-and-go food, the 9,600 square foot Boardwalk location will be home to Savco University, a meeting room for classes and staff training and babo Central Kitchen, which will serve as creation space for babo products and Savco Catering.  The new location will give residents options for quick food for any time of day, says Navarre.  "After work, when you’re thinking about what to serve for dinner, we can help with meal starters, side dishes, salad dressings, sauces, and great ideas to make dinner easy and delicious," she says. " In 2015, we’ll add packaged ice cream to the offerings." Babo: Farm Fresh Meals to Go is now open on Ann Arbor's south side. The Nickels Arcade shop is opening soon.  Source: Joanne Navarre, Savco Hospitality Writer: Natalie Burg

Lua Makeup & Hair Studio celebrates grand opening in Arbor Hills Crossing

By Natalie Burg

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Development News

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December 17, 2014

Lua Makeup & Hair Studio got its start just over a year ago when owner and stylist Dalal Farha decided to break out on her own and open a studio at Hair Essentials Salon Studios on Washtenaw Ave. Though her Dec. 6 move to Arbor Hills Crossing may not have been physically far, the expansion in to her own 450-square foot space represents a big step for Farha's growing salon.  "I've been looking to get to that area and have been looking to expand," Farha says. "My clientele was getting bigger and I needed a larger space."  The Saturday grand opening of the new Lua Makeup & Hair Studio location featured the launch of Farha's new oil bar. A longtime fan of oils, Farha creates oil cocktails for clients customized for their hair. Her mixes address various hair issues such as frizz, shine and growth.  "I wanted to be a little different," she says. "There are eyebrow bars and blowout bars. We are starting something new that is exclusive to the area." Lua Makeup & Hair Studio offers a variety of services. While Farha maintains the salon herself, she also provides space to a laser hair specialist at the studio as well. She hopes to continue to grow her business as well as launch her own oil product, Lua Midnight Oil.  Source: Dalal Farha, Lua Makeup & Hair Studio Writer: Natalie Burg

Is Ann Arbor affordable? Nope. (And that’s official.)

By Natalie Burg

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General

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December 17, 2014

It's no secret that Ann Arbor offers a high quality of life for its residents. But with little supply and increased demand, the cost of living here has become prohibitive for many members of the middle class. And without a plan for future accommodation this not only means less diversity but also potential long term economic challenges.