It’s the Saturday after Thanksgiving and malls are full. Parking lots are crowded, lines are long and there’s more flesh pressed between the isles than leftover turkey between wheat and mayo. You’ve got family and friends on a holiday gift list, but you don’t want any part of this scene. So what’s the alternative? “Shop […]
Nana Dansoa wasn’t planning on a marketing career. She didn’t initially try to earn a degree in marketing or set out to help other small business owners, but Dansoa says there was a demand for her services in the community. She felt a need to offer professional assistance. The owner of Dansoa Marketing, 19120 Grand […]
There might be only one location in the city that offers a variety of ice cream and sells fried okra inside a former (renovated) gas station. River Breeze Dairy Freeze opened as a seasonal business on Good Friday in 1980 at 10800 E. Jefferson Ave. Owner Clausel Maxwell, though originally from Alabama, moved in with […]
Clyde Walker had the credentials, but he didn’t have the experience. A graduate of the former Detroit Engineering Institute in the mid-1980’s, he sought jobs, but found rejection. “They said, ‘You sound like you know what you’re talking about, but you’re not quite ready,’” recalls Walker. Still, with determination, he not only found work, he […]
There is no doubt about it. Small shops in Detroit are cool, and thriving. What so many don’t know is many of these small shops have been operating in our city’s neighborhoods for years. Others are quietly opening new businesses that will make a difference to residents. Many of those small shops are invisible, never […]
Mayor Mike Duggan made a commitment to not only make Detroit a small business destination, but ensure long-term entrepreneurial success. The mayor’s programs, in conjunction with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, such as Motor City Match and the Motor City Re-Store, are examples of providing grants focused on supporting and investing in businesses long term. […]
Craig Sarafa says the intersection between Seven Mile Road and I-75 is known for its busy traffic. The passing vehicles often pull into nearby gas stations and fast food restaurants. Many drivers pay little attention to Sarafa’s property, although it’s been there for decades. Public Lumber & Millwork focuses on selling manufacturing wood products such […]
For all it’s gone through as a city, Detroit still knows how to move. Want proof? STARS Elite Training Center won first place in the “Small Group 12 and Over” category in the World of Dance Championship in July in Seacaucus, NJ. Located at 19600 Grand River, STARS Elite Training Center also took fifth place […]
On a hot August day in the heart of the East Side, eager business owners, city officials, and members of the press alike gathered on Kercheval Avenue to witness the next round of businesses in the Motor City Match see their dreams come to life. The two-year-old program is a signature small business initiative of […]
Finding the right gift for anyone can be a challenge. For young women who’ve faced hardship in their lives it can be even harder to know what gesture will have the greatest impact. Fifty youths will receive a gesture from a Detroit businesswoman who can relate to some of their experiences Aug. 17 when Alternatives […]