Ypsilanti

Insomnia Cookies to open second area location in Ypsi

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March 20, 2013

It would appear that area snackers just can't get enough late-night cookies. An Insomnia Cookies store is set to open on W. Cross St. in Ypsilanti, just one year after the brand's Ann Arbor location opened it's doors on S. University. "The Ann Arbor location is doing beautifully," says Marketing Manager of Serve U Brands Renee Sarnecky for Insomnia Cookies. "The students and the local community seem to really enjoy the late night retail and delivery hours." Though an exact date isn't set, Sarnecky expects the new Insomnia Cookies to open at some point in April with a staff of up to 10 employees. "Ypsilanti is the perfect place for an Insomnia Cookies, and being the home of Eastern Michigan University makes it even more perfect," Sarnecky says. "Students are always in need of a late night snack. With limited late night food options, especially ones that deliver." For more detailed updates on opening dates, Sarnecky directs cookie fans to the Insomnia Cookie Facebook page. A grand opening will be planned for the location that will include the distribution of free cookie coupons in and around EMU's campus. Source: Renee Sarnecky, Insomnia Cookies Writer: Natalie Burg

D'Real Graham at Ypsilanti Middle School

MASTERMIND: Chalk Talk With D’Real Graham

By Tanya Muzumdar

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General

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March 20, 2013

When people talk about paving the way for the next generation of community leaders and activists they're talking about someone like D'Real Graham. Born and raised in Ypsilanti, Graham ran for his local school board, serves on the city's Recreation Commission, taught science at Ann Arbor's Hands On Museum and is the program coordinator for 826Michigan. And he's only 26.

Willow Run’s B-24 bomber factory gets PBS doc

By Newsroom

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Health

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March 13, 2013

signal... Sunday on PBS. Excerpt: "According to the Michigan Aerospace Foundation, the documentary recounts the building of the massive assembly plant, and the production process of more than 8,000 B-24 heavy bombers. The bombers were built at the plant from 1942 to 1945." The program will air at 4 p.m. Sunday on Channel 56. Read the rest here.

Ypsi DDA to invest up to $30K in building rehab assistance

By Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

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Community Development

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March 6, 2013

Renovating a historic commercial building is no easy task, but the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority (YDDA) is working to make it more manageable to do so in their district. The organization has recently announced that $30,000 will be made available through their YDDA Building Rehabilitation Program. "This is an opportunity for a businesses to expand or come into a space or to leverage funds to increase their property value," says YDDA Director Tim Colbeck. The funds are eligible to cover up to 50 percent of the cost to rehabilitate buildings within the YDDA district. Qualifying projects include ADA accessibility construction, fire suppression upgrades, or other tasks involved in bringing buildings up to code inside the YDDA district, which includes properties in downtown, Depot Town and the W. Cross St. District. "It's not for a coat of paint," says Colbeck. "It has to be something that will take a building that is in a state of disrepair and bring it up to code. It's not just cosmetic stuff in the interior." The YDDA Building Rehabilitation Program is now in its fourth round of grants. This round will differ from the prior three in that, rather than accepting applications until a particular deadline, grants will be awarded on a rolling basis. The $30,000 available through the program is funded by the YDDA and the Washtenaw County Economic Development & Energy Department. Applications are available on the YDDA's website. Source: Tim Colbeck, Ypsilanti DDA Writer: Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

Concentrate Speaker Event: Harnessing Robot (and Volunteer) Power

By Concentrate Staff

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General

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February 26, 2013

As any non-profit organization will tell you, much of their efforts are powered by ordinary folks donating their time. That couldn't be truer for 826Michigan, a hip Ann Arbor-based tutoring and literacy nonprofit that mobilizes hundreds of dedicated volunteers every year. Concentrate's Speaker Series has invited executive director Amanda Uhle to explain the methods and challenges of attracting energetic volunteers and how 826 leverages their unique identity to thrive. Sign up now for this Feb. 28 event!

Blue Wolf Grill brings locally-sourced fare to former Taco Bell

By Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

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Arts & Culture

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February 20, 2013

With the many challenges that face any new restaurant, Blue Wolf Grill co-owner Charles Molina knew one thing wouldn't be a problem with his new Washtenaw Avenue restaurant. "No one has trouble finding us," he says. "You tell everybody you're in the old Taco Bell, and they know what that means. That building is iconic." While the building may still resemble the well-known fast food restaurant, everything else about the Blue Wolf Grill is entirely different. The 1,400 square foot restaurant has a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, such as cherries from Traverse City, whitefish from the Great Lakes and coffee from Cadillac. "The food is American new," says Molina. "It has a lot of different influences, like comfort food, and there is some Asian influence too." Molina and his girlfriend Cheri Jackson aren't newcomers to the food business or the neighborhood. Their We Cater To U catering company is right on the other side of Washtenaw from the Blue Wolf Grill. And, according to Molina, the rush of new restaurants popping up along the busy avenue has only endeared them to the location even more. "We welcome it," he says. "The strip between Hewitt and Golfside has been dead for awhile. We look at it as, the more businesses that are here, the more traffic, and the more potential customers who can try our food." The Blue Wolf Grill opened in mid-December with a staff of 12, and Molina says business is already doing quite well. He has plans to create an outdoor patio to supplement his indoor seating for 34 diners, including landscaping to shelter outdoor diners from Washtenaw traffic. Source: Charles Molina, Blue Wolf Grill Writer: Natalie Burg

Family owned Pho House to open on Washtenaw in March

By Natalie Burg, Development News Editor

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Arts & Culture

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February 20, 2013

The Inhmathong Family knows Ypsilanti, as well as the restaurant business. The local Laotian family behind the upcoming Pho House restaurant on Washtenaw has been operating restaurants for 20 years. "Our family landed in Ypsilanti as refugees from the Vietnam War," says Wendy Inhmathong-Travis. "For my brother and me, we practically grew up in Ypsi. It's our home now. We want to take part in making Ypsi better." Their latest contribution to that effort will be Pho House, a Vietnamese Restaurant serving noodle and grill cuisine in the former Fat Philly's and Burgers building on the corner of Hewitt and Washtenaw Avenue. The Inhmathong family is currently working to renovate the space, which is truly a family endeavor. "The restaurant is owned by my little brother, Jurney," Inhmathong-Travis says. "This is his first time in running a business. We're helping him, [his] mom, dad, and sis." Inhmathong-Travis hopes to have the Pho House ready to open to the public in March. Initially, the restaurant will employ eight members of the family, and Inhmathong-Travis expects they will expand their staffing as the business grows. Source: Wendy Inhmathong-Travis, Pho House Writer: Natalie Burg

DIA brings art to Ann Arbor and Ypsi

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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February 13, 2013

Funding public art may not be a part of Ann Arbor's priorities but at least it'll act as a canvass for art from the Detroit Institute Of Art for three months this Spring. Excerpt: "Now in its fourth year, Inside|Out brings reproductions of masterpieces from the DIA’s collection to the streets of metro Detroit," a DIA press release said. "Inside|Out aims to connect with audiences outside the museum walls in places where they live, work and play." Ann Arbor will host the following Inside|Out spring installations from April to June (see below for a complete list of participating communities). Ypsilanti will host yet-to-be-determined artworks from July to August." Read the rest here.

A2 directed, written and produced movie stars Hunger Games hunk

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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January 30, 2013

Homegrown but Hollywood fueled, "Love and Honor" was co-written by U-M professor Jim Burnstein, directed by U-M grad Danny Mooney, produced U-M grad Eddie Rubin, and shot in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. But it stars The Hunger Games hunk Liam Hemsworth. You can see the Vietnam era movie on VOD starting February 14 and in theaters on March 22. Check out the trailer.

Ann Arbor SPARK lands $1M to expand reach regionally

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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January 30, 2013

Ann Arbor SPARK has landed $1 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund that will help the economic accelerator expand its reach across Washtenaw County. "This broadens the geography and the number of companies that we can serve," says Paul Krutko, president & CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. The money will go toward creating the Washtenaw County Incubator Collaborative, which will help bring Ann Arbor SPARK's business incubator activities across the county. The idea is to help further the growth of tech-based start-ups and jobs across the county. Ann Arbor SPARK will partner with the MC3 Business Accelerator and the Michigan Research Institute to leverage the $1 million in state funding (and $722,500 in matching funds from the participating agencies) to create the the Washtenaw County Incubator Collaborative. The new partnership will focus on the medical device and defense industries as well as other high-growth industries in Washtenaw County. "We need to deal with regional solutions," Krutko says. Source: Paul Krutko, president & CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.