Tanya Muzumdar

Tanya Muzumdar's Latest Articles

Catching Fireflies gift shop to open in downtown Ann Arbor, add up to 6 jobs

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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December 19, 2012

A gift shop known for whimsy has landed a new outlet in Ann Arbor's Kerrytown. Catching Fireflies, which also has stores in Berkley and Rochester, Mich., is looking to open by the end of March at 419 Detroit St., according to co-owner April McCrumb. McCrumb, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, formerly sold her handmade paper goods at Ann Arbor's Sunday Artisan Market. "It's exciting to be able to come back to it in a new way, 15 years later," she says. Look for a turquoise-painted exterior when the weather warms, and a multicolored interior. Catching Fireflies carries an extensive selection of work from Michigan-based artisans, and a kitchen sink, crib, bathtub will get second lives as displays in the 2,800 sq. ft. space. "We'll have giant repurposed industrial wire spools and tables. We use a lot of doors too. We definitely try to do nontraditional displays, so it'll be a fun, neat feel as opposed to a standard gift shop," says McCrumb. Source: April McCrumb, co-owner of Catching Fireflies Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Zingerman’s Deli preps for January opening of new addition

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Arts and Culture

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December 19, 2012

On the watch list for January: Fresh snow, more minutes of daylight, and the newly expanded Zingerman's Deli.  The two-story, 10,200 sq. ft. addition is close to complete. Workers are digging a new section of basement between the existing deli and the new building and connecting the two buildings on the basement and first floor levels. Zingerman's Deli Managing Partner Grace Singleton expects to open the addition to the public by mid-to-late January. Zingerman's is targeting LEED Silver, or possibly LEED Gold, certification for the project. Among the eco-friendly features are a parallel rack system for the refrigerator units; instead of 25 separate compressors, there are four.  "Refrigeration makes waste heat, and so we're capturing that waste heat and using it to preheat water for the hot water tanks," Singleton says. The building also has a white roof. "They've done a lot of studies to prove that actually the most energy-efficient roof is a really light-colored roof that reflects the sun in the summer, because you use more energy to cool than you do to heat." The expansion will add another 140 seats plus a second-floor deck with seating for 60 during warm weather to the 100 seats at Zingerman's Next Door, which will keep the same dining capacity, albeit more reminiscent of its original roots.   "Because it's always been our overflow seating, it kind of had almost two personalities," Singleton says, adding, "We're probably going to bring the bulk of coffee and tea over there, add some more of the sweets and confections and chocolate display we have...It'll still be open the whole time, but we'll be able to really focus on it as more of the coffee shop versus the coffee shop / overflow seating for the Deli." Zingerman's forecasted adding another 60 jobs within five years of opening the new space, which has amenities such as a bathroom for the staff with a shower to encourage staff biking to work, Singleton says.  "We were working in the confines of the building we had, so we're very excited to have a much better workplace for our staff, where we have a break room and more restrooms, and we have an elevator to move freight around. And the flow of the work becomes much easier versus all the logistical hoops we had to jump through when we were in the older cramped kitchen...It was one of the main motivators for doing our project." Source: Grace Singleton, managing partner of Zingerman's Deli Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

The Big Salad to open first of four new Ann Arbor locations

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Arts and Culture

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December 19, 2012

Ann Arbor's dining scene will be looking fresh and green next spring. The Big Salad, a specialty salad restaurant based in Grosse Pointe, Mich., is opening the first of what owner John Bornoty says will be four new Ann Arbor eateries. Bornoty expects to open during the first week of April at the newly built Plymouth Road Plaza at 1971 Plymouth Road, near the University of Michigan's North Campus. He is also targeting Briarwood Mall, Washtenaw Avenue, and the State Street area near U-M's central campus. This will be the sixth link in the Grosse-Pointe, Mich.-based restaurant chain. "Our goal is to work our way to the west of the state – Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Chicago - Ann Arbor is just a logical step for us," Bornoty says. Each location typically has between 15 and 20 full- and part-time employees, according to Bornoty. The 2,000 sq. ft. eatery will seat 45 and have an outdoor patio with seating for 12. The restaurant serves soups, sandwiches, and made-to-order salads. Diners can choose from 32 vegetable toppings, 10 dry toppings, nine meats, and 30 dressings. Says Bornoty, "We don't want anyone to ever remember what they got last time." Source: John Bornoty, owner, The Big Salad Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Cataphora lands $300K MEDC grant, plans new jobs, larger Ann Arbor office

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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December 19, 2012

California-based software firm Cataphora, Inc. will be putting the proceeds of a $300,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) to work at expanding its Ann Arbor headcount and office space. The company provides tools for the analysis of digital communications and documents in large organizations to help employers understand characteristics and define trends. "We intend on spending approximately $200,000 and creating 30 new jobs over the next few years," says Chris Kurecka, manager of the Ann Arbor office. Cataphora has three employees in an office at 500 E. Washington St. in downtown Ann Arbor, but is looking to move to a larger space in or near downtown during the first half of 2013, according to Kurecka. He is searching for a new office within a several-block radius of State Street, near the University of Michigan campus. About 25% of Cataphora's employees are U-M grads, Kurecka says, and the company has an internship program. "Having that proximity to campus really helps us because we don't want students figuring out how to drive five miles or take a bus or whatever, necessarily, to get to work," Kurecka adds. Source: Chris Kurecka, Ann Arbor office manager, Cataphora, Inc. Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

A New Breed: Tilian Farm Development Center

By Tanya Muzumdar

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General

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December 19, 2012

Business incubators have become a vital driving force in southeast Michigan's growing high-tech economy. But what about the state's second largest economic sector, food and agriculture? Enter Food System Economic Partnership and the Tilian Farm Development Center. Concentrate gets the skinny.

Michigan Saves offers incentives to businesses making energy-efficient upgrades

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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December 12, 2012

In time for the winter indoor-project season, a new statewide low-interest rate program for businesses making energy-efficient upgrades to their properties has come into effect. Under the Michigan Saves Business Energy Financing Program, businesses can obtain 2-5 year loans ranging from $2,000-150,000, at rates starting at 5.9%. The financing is provided through Ervin Leasing for businesses using program-authorized contractors, according to Julie Bennett, executive director of Michigan Saves. A special incentive in the form of a 3.99% rate and a $2,000 rebate from Michigan Saves is available to food industry companies cutting energy use by 20%. That includes grocers, convenience stores, food wholesalers, and restaurants.  "We're really targeting that industry because they use a lot of energy, but they typically don't have the time and resources to make the improvements," Bennett says. The incentive program is grant-funded and short-term, so Bennett encourages food industry business owners to apply as soon as possible. The loan program, however, has about $50 million in committed funds and is intended to be perpetual, according to Bennett. "There's a recycling that happens with this money as loans are paid down, so we're hoping that we'll never have to stop this program. But at this time we can do 1,000 businesses...if we had a rush to the door, we could do 1,000." Qualifying projects include energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling, insulation, refrigeration, and motor, door, or window replacement. The program is targeting business enrollment, and employment as well. "We're always looking for more contractors to enroll in the program," Bennett adds. "It's a kind of job creation angle - that we're really trying to get contractors enrolled." Source: Julie Bennett, executive director of Michigan Saves Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Isalita to bring Mexican street food, up to 35 jobs to A2 near end of the year

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Arts and Culture

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December 12, 2012

Farm-to-table is a popular mantra among restaurateurs; could street food-to-table become the next catchphrase? Isalita, a new restaurant coming soon from Adam Baru, proprietor of the neighboring Mani Osteria, will be serving up traditional Mexican street food in Ann Arbor. Included on the menu: housemade tortillas, choice of guacamole, pickled tomatoes, and all-fresh juice margaritas. Baru hopes to open his 90-seat eatery at 341 E. Liberty St. either by year-end or the first week in January. "There's a market culture of Mexico that's an important part of the social fabric of the country. Street food plays an important role and is an important characteristic of eating in Mexico," he says. "And so we really tried to rely on more of a bright colored, yet more of an industrial, sort of an unfinished feel to the space that feels much more like an experience in Mexico. [It's] more whimsical, but at the same time maybe a little bit more edgy." Baru is wrapping up a complete build-out of the space, which will be connected to Mani Osteria through a passageway. In addition to sharing some staff between the eateries, 30-35 more employees are being hired for Isalita. To start, Isalita will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, with a possibility of brunch or lunch down the road. "A little splash of tropical in the middle of winter will be nice," Baru says. Source: Adam Baru, owner, Isalita and Mani Osteria Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Valicor invests $5 million in new Dexter headquarters, adds 16 jobs

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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December 12, 2012

As a testament to continual innovation in the sciences, Valicor, a business focusing on fluid separation and purification technologies, environmental services, and research and development on renewables such as algae oil, ethanol, and corn oil, has moved across the street to a new national headquarters in Dexter. The 36,000 sq. ft. building, at 7400 Newman Blvd., has triple the floor space of Valicor's former headquarters. "Every five years or so we outgrow a building," says Martin Rodriguezacosta, program coordinator at Valicor. The firm employs about 250 people nationwide, with 40 of them in Dexter, he says. In keeping with the reuse and recycling mission of its business, the company completely renovated the space using recycled office equipment, carpeting made with recycled material, and a geothermal system for heating and cooling. The project was made possible with assistance from Ann Arbor SPARK, which helped Valicor to secure more than $3.5 million in incentives from Scio Township. Valicor is investing $5 million in the project and adding 16 new jobs locally, mainly in research and chemical engineering, according to SPARK. "Not only have we been able to continue to add jobs throughout the economic slump – we've been able to do it nationwide, but in particular our own backyard in Michigan...we didn't lose anyone during that time,"  Rodriguezacosta says. Sources:  Martin Rodriguezacosta, program coordinator at Valicor; Ann Arbor SPARK Writer: Tanya Muzumdar Note: This article was amended to reflect a correction in employee headcount.

Colorado-based Vail Resorts to acquire, renovate Mount Brighton ski area

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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December 12, 2012

At the Mount Brighton ski area, snow is green. Vail Resorts, Inc., owner of the eponymous Vail ski resort and other major mountain resorts in the Colorado Rockies and Lake Tahoe regions, has entered into an agreement to purchase the ski destination located about 40 miles west of Detroit and 20 miles north of Ann Arbor. "We believe there's an opportunity for us to look at key urban markets where there's a concentration of skiers and riders and where there are local ski areas. And we believe there's an opportunity to connect our destination resorts in Colorado and California with those markets by owning some of these resorts in these key markets, and then creating a conduit between that particular ski area and market back out to our western destination resorts. A lot of our guests currently come from Michigan, as an example," says John Garnsey, president of global mountain development at Vail Resorts, Inc. Over 307,000 skiers and snowboarders live in the Detroit, Lansing, and Ann Arbor areas, according to the company. Vail Resorts will also purchase another urban ski area, the Afton Alps resort near Minneapolis. The combined price for both properties is $20 million. Mount Brighton is owned by the Bruhn family, which has requested that their component of the sale price not be disclosed at this time. The deal is expected to close later this week or early next, according to Garnsey. Consequently, an overhaul is forthcoming for the property, which opened in 1960. It has 26 trails on 130 skiable acres, seven chair lifts, night skiing and snowboarding, and an 18-hole golf course. Garnsey says the company plans to upgrade and build upon the existing snowmaking system, evaluate the chairlifts, and also look at expanding the 15-acre terrain park, improving base facilities, and adding more summer activities. Company representatives plan to meet with Brighton's community leaders and seek their input, says Garnsey. "We'll certainly work with the existing team there and get a lot of feedback from them and pick their brains on what they'd like to see relative to improvements, et cetera. I think that next summer you'll see some activity at Mount Brighton." Source: John Garnsey, president of global mountain development at Vail Resorts, Inc. Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

Historic Ypsilanti Freighthouse shoots for spring re-opening

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Arts and Culture

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December 5, 2012

The long-awaited next chapter for the Ypsilanti Freighthouse is coming, very possibly by May of 2013.  The circa-1850 building, originally part of the Michigan Central Railroad Complex in Depot Town, has been closed for the past eight years. At this point over $1 million has been raised and spent on an extensive rehabilitation of the structure to make it eligible for occupancy and re-open it for public use. The funding came from a combination of federal, state, and city of Ypsilanti funds, as well as auctions, sales, and private donations. The Friends of The Ypsilanti Freighthouse (FOYF), the group managing the project, is raising the final $75,000 needed for the last few punch-list items, according to FOYF co-founder Linda French. The funds are needed to install new bathrooms, a heating system, and a fire suppression system. The property has a new metal roof, steel structural supports, and a large rain garden. It retains its original brick interior walls and wood floor. The Freighthouse, which measures about 5,000 square feet, will contain a train kiosk for planned commuter train service, a gathering room for community events, and a café.  "Once we get it open, we're going to put out RFPs throughout the community to see what it is the people in the city would like to see in there, and then have RFPs from different groups that might want to run it," French says. "We envision it going back to being a public domain, where you have jazz shows, you have antique shows and farmers markets, just bits of things that the community can be involved in." She adds: "We did a very extensive business plan so that we would make this a sustainable building so the city doesn't have to pay money to keep it going." The intent is to charge rental fees for occasional private events, such as weddings, although by and large, the building will remain open to the public. "It is Greenfield Village quality. It's just a wonderful building and now that it's fixed, we'd like to return it to the city of Ypsilanti and have it be used by the citizens." Source: Linda French, co-founder, Friends of The Ypsilanti Freighthouse Writer: Tanya Muzumdar