Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Downtown Detroit Markets and Cadillac Lodge Set to Return Nov. 10
Bedrock and the Gilbert Family Foundation (GFF) have unveiled plans for the return of the Downtown Detroit Markets and Cadillac Lodge providing Detroiters with a seasonal fun and immersive experience.
Beginning Nov. 10, 18 local businesses, the majority of which are BIPOC or female-owned, will pop up in Cadillac Square to provide residents, southeast Michigan visitors, and out-of-town travelers with engaging and diverse retail opportunities. The Downtown Detroit Markets, funded by the Gilbert Family Foundation and managed with support from Bedrock and the Downtown Detroit Partnership, will be open through the end of 2022.
“The Gilbert Family Foundation believes in the power of entrepreneurship and public space,” says Laura Grannemann, executive director of the Gilbert Family Foundation. “The Downtown Detroit Markets are an important opportunity for Detroit entrepreneurs to test new products, gain exposure to new customers, and grow their brands in a beautiful public space that brings everyone together.”
Now in its fifth year, the Downtown Detroit Markets have offered a launchpad to more than 130 small businesses that have generated nearly $6 million in overall sales. Over the years, 19 small businesses have taken part in the markets more than once, and some have gone on to open brick-and-mortar storefronts.
“The Downtown Detroit Markets and Cadillac Lodge have become beloved traditions for many local residents and families to visit during the holiday season,” says Ivy Greaner, COO at Bedrock. “Throughout the years, we have been fortunate to help foster the growth of a mix of local businesses at the Markets, and this makes the program truly special. There will be something for everyone to enjoy this season and we are ready for this next round of entrepreneurs to flourish.”
Carhartt, Rumpl Launch Outdoor Accessories Collection
Carhartt in Dearborn has partnered with technical outdoor blanket brand Rumpl to launch a new, limited-edition collection designed to “fuel hardworking people with their next outdoor adventures comfortably.”
United by a shared love for getting outside, the Carhartt x Rumpl collection remains true to each brand’s origins, featuring functional, lightweight, and durable products. The line offers a variety of rugged, yet comfortable, products for any outdoor occasion, including a first-of-its-kind poncho, a variety of blankets, a stuffable pillowcase, and beverage blankets, all inspired by Carhartt and Rumpl’s styles and colors.
“From jobsite to the great outdoors, Carhartt is synonymous with protecting people from the elements,” says Brian Spiro, strategic partnerships and influencer marketing manager at Carhartt. “With shared values of developing gear built to work, built to last and designed to help people embrace adventure, the Rumpl collection underscores Carhartt’s commitment to versatility, sustainability and high-quality gear ready for whatever the outdoors bring.”
Rumpl, a maker of premium and technical blankets, says it strives to make blankets for everyone and everywhere. The new collection marks the first time Rumpl blankets will utilize Carhartt’s classic duck brown and unique camouflage designs.
“Rumpl is always on the lookout for iconic brands that align with our values of making premium outdoor gear and activewear for everyday life. Carhartt is exactly that,” says Wylie Robinson, founder and CEO at Rumpl. “Our hope with this new collection is to build off the heritage of the Carhartt brand and create a unique collection of products that our shared consumers can bring to their everyday outings, whether that’s tailgating with friends after a long day of work or warming up after a cold day fishing.”
The full Carhartt x Rumpl collection is available at Rumpl.com and in select Scheels and Dick’s Sporting Goods retail locations. Select pieces of the collection are available at Carhartt.com and in Carhartt retail stores.
Versata Software Awarded $100M+ in Landmark Case Against Ford
On Wednesday, Versata Software Inc. (Versata) was victorious over defendant Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn in an intellectual property court case dating back to 2015. Versata was awarded more than $100 million in damages following a unanimous jury decision.
Young, Garcia & Quadrozzi, a Farmington Hills-based boutique law firm specializing in complex commercial litigation, represented Versata Software.
“While we respect the jury’s decision, we believe the facts and the law do not support this outcome,” Ford said in a statement. “Ford will appeal the verdict.”
Ford and Versata entered into a subscription agreement in 2004 that, through multiple renewals, granted Ford the automotive configuration software (ACM) license for 10 years. Versata accused Ford of misappropriating its trade secrets and breaching the licensing agreement in 2014, when Versata learned that Ford had developed its own software to replace ACM.
The plaintiff Versata Software sued Ford in 2015, alleging the car manufacturer misappropriated Versata’s intellectual property to create a “like-for-like” replacement of Versata’s proprietary configuration software, breaching the parties’ licensing agreement.
Versata brought both trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract claims against Ford, seeking damages for each. Ford in turn brought a breach of contract claim against Versata. The contentious litigation lasted more than seven years, culminating in a three-week October 2022 jury trial, which concluded with a unanimous ruling in favor of Versata from the eight-person jury.
Versata won six of the eight claims and defeated Ford’s single counterclaim. The jury determined that more than $80 million in damages fairly compensated Versata for its breach of contract claims and that more than $20 million in damages fairly compensated Versata for Ford’s misappropriation of three of Versata’s trade secrets.
Olga’s Kitchen Unveils Hell Fire Detroit Spicy Chicken Olga
Livonia-based Olga’s Kitchen is introducing a new menu item — the Hell Fire Detroit Spicy Chicken Olga.
“We are thrilled to unveil our new Olga with a bold and truly unmatched flavor,” said Tom Ruddy, director of culinary and purchasing at Olga’s Kitchen. “Olga’s has a rich history of innovation — going back to pioneering Mediterranean flavors more than 50 years ago — so we are very excited to partner with Hell Fire Detroit and dial up the heat on our menu. This isn’t yesterday’s flavor.”
Hell Fire Detroit creates small batch hot sauces including habanero chile, which brings a new kind of heat to Olga’s Kitchen.
“Teaming up with Olga’s Kitchen has brought two Michigan powerhouse brands together to create one delicious product,” says Don Button, founder of Hell Fire Detroit. “Having a consistent presence in Olga’s restaurants is a meaningful way for us to expand our footprint with a sauce that truly packs a punch.”
The Hell Fire Detroit Spicy Chicken Olga features crispy chicken tenderloins basted with a spicy habanero and honey citrus aioli served on bread with vine-ripened tomato, ribbon cut lettuce, pickles, and marinated sweet red onions. Guests can level up the Spicy Chicken Olga and take on the Hell Fire Detroit Challenge where the chicken tenders are tossed in straight-up habanero chile sauce.
Now through Oct. 31, Olga’s fans are invited to come in at lunchtime to try the Hell Fire Detroit Spicy Chicken Olga. Guests who order two Olgas and are rewards members will receive a free appetizer. Those who are not currently rewards members can join via the Olga’s Kitchen mobile app or at olgasrewards.com.
Daxton Hotel Partners with Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door Whiskey
The Daxton Hotel in Birmingham is partnering with Heaven’s Door, a collection of handcrafted American Whiskeys co-created with singer-songwriter-artist Bob Dylan.
Pulling from the art-filled boutique hotel as inspiration, Heaven’s Door crafted a unique bourbon exclusively available at Daxton, named Heaven’s Door Daxton Single Barrel. This bespoke spirit will be available to enjoy at Daxton’s Geode Bar and Lounge, as well as flagship restaurant Madam.
Distilled with a custom Heaven’s Door mash bill and aged for five years, Master Blender Ryan Perry selected this cask strength single barrel for its robust flavors and rich color. With notes of creamed corn, clover honey, and hand toasted oak, there is an inherent sweetness and strong barrel extraction on both the nose and palate.
“The quality of Heaven’s Door’s award-winning portfolio of whiskeys matches the extraordinary quality of service and experience that we proudly provide our guests,” says Raj Radke, managing director of the Daxton Hotel. “Our two likeminded brands have come together to create a special spirit that can only be enjoyed at Daxton — where you are enveloped in a collection of museum-quality art, where you can revel in a night of live jazz music, and where you are transported to a place where your senses can soar.”
The Heaven’s Door Daxton Single Barrel can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or with a splash of water. It features the following characteristics:
- Age – more than 5 years
- Proof – 124.5
- ABV – 62.25 percent
- Nose – toasted caramel, butterscotch, toasted oak
- Palate – creamed corn, nutmeg, green grass
For more information, visit daxtonhotel.com and heavensdoor.com.
Fleet Mobile Maintenance in Detroit Acquired by Minnesota Company
Fleet Mobile Maintenance Inc. in Detroit has been acquired by Epika Fleet Services Inc. of Bloomington, Minn. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquisition strengthens Epika’s presence in the Midwest while expanding its mobile service offering for commercial fleet partners with heavy-duty trucks and trailers. Service offerings from Fleet Mobile Maintenance include mobile preventative maintenance and mechanical repair, tire replacement and repair services, trailer repair. and maintenance services.
Fleet Mobile Maintenance serves several markets in southeast Michigan. FMM also has technicians serving customers in Indianapolis, Cleveland, Louisville, and Nashville.
“The future of service is onsite fleet maintenance,” says Wes Yonkman, president of Fleet Mobile Maintenance. “When it comes to innovation, there has never been a better way to drive uptime through preventative maintenance brought to your door or your dock; we’re excited to be able to provide even more for our fleet customers in partnering with Epika.”
The Statler French-American Bistro to Host Beaujolais Nouveau Day Dinner Event Nov. 17
The Statler French-American Bistro in downtown Detroit (313 Park Ave.) will host a Beaujolais Nouveau Day dinner event at 7 p.m. Nov. 17.
The French commemorate the unique Beaujolais nouveau, a fruity red wine made from Gamay grapes and produced in the Beaujolais region of France, with a celebration on the third Thursday of November.
While most vintages are aged, this distinctive wine is meant to be savored right away, giving the connoisseur an immediate experience unlike any other. Since 1951 it has been a race to the bistros of Paris to taste the fruits of the latest harvest.
The evening includes hors d’oeuvres (Huîtres Chaudes-Baked Oysters with an anchovy butter lemon sauce), salade (French Country Salad of Lyon-little gem lettuce, curly frisée, bacon lardons, olive oil-poached egg, honey-lemon vinaigrette), Poisson: Le Sole à la Poêle (sole Poêlée-pan seared sole, chestnuts, fennel, shallots), and entrée: Le Porterhouse d’Agneau (Agneau Porterhouse-Lamb porterhouse, pomegranate, pistachiom natural jus).
The cost is $100 per person (tax, gratuity and any other add-on items are not included in this fee). Pairings of Beaujolais wine are available for an additional fee. Space is limited and must be reserved in advance.
For more information and to make a reservation, visit statlerdetroit.com, here, or call 313-463-7111.
DTE Energy Foundation Grants $420K to Shelters During Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The DTE Energy Foundation announced Thursday it will continue its mission to support victims of domestic violence in Michigan by awarding another round of grants to 45 state-funded domestic violence shelters in Michigan.
This year’s grant amount of $420,000 brings the foundation’s total commitment to more than $2.2 million over the past four years.
“The tragic consequences of domestic violence are present in every county of our state and every aspect of our daily life,” says Lynette Dowler, president of the DTE Foundation. “The DTE Foundation remains committed to supporting these shelters that provide a safe haven to individuals forced to flee abusive relationships or settings. These agencies are a lifeline for victims and their families.”
The grant will be provided to 45 shelters that receive part of their funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Support will be based on bed count and go to critical expenses at each location. Funding also will be used to offer holistic survivor-centric services that include housing, transportation, employment, and support for survivors who need assistance with health care needs or are struggling to navigate the criminal justice system.
Shelters in metro Detroit receiving grants include:
- SafeHouse Center, Ann Arbor
- YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit/Interim House, Detroit
- LACASA, Howell
- Lapeer Area Citizens Against Domestic Assault, Lapeer
- Family Counseling and Shelter Services of Monroe County, Monroe
- Turning Point, Mt. Clemens
- First Step, Plymouth
- HAVEN, Pontiac
- Blue Water Safe Horizons, Port Huron
New Strand Young Professionals Board at the Flagstar Strand Theatre Seeking Applicants
The Flagstar Strand Theatre in Pontiac is seeking 21 to 35 young professionals to apply to join the Strand Young Professionals Board (SYPB) beginning in January 2023.
The goals for the new organization are:
- Find and retain the best people — including all cultures, ethnicities, genders, industries, and religions — in their 20s and 30s.
- Members will be enthusiastic about the arts, community service, and the theatre’s mission.
- Members will be methodical thinkers committed to purposeful and reflective thinking focused on strategy rather than tactics.
- Members will have a meaningful and valuable volunteering experience that empowers these young professionals.
The president of the SYPB will be invited to serve on the theatre’s board of directors in a non-voting capacity. The SYPB will focus on a program project and be offered networking and public learning events, gallery exhibition openings, theatre tours, and fundraising initiatives. In addition, they will promote to the younger generations under the guidance of the staff member.
Those interested can contact the development director at aburns@flagstarstrand.com to receive an application.
Trade Secrets Event to Raise Funds for Program Empowering Women Seeking Employment
The 14th annual Trade Secrets event, a fundraiser for Gesher Human Services’ Women to Work Program, will take place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Detroit Marriott Troy.
Women to Work began in the 1980s to help women re-enter the workforce after significant life-changing events such as a financial need due to family job loss, divorce, death, or disability of a spouse or partner.
Trade Secrets has raised more than $2.2 million in the last 13 years and the program has benefitted more than 2,000 metro Detroit women.
This year’s event will feature honoree and speaker, Brenda Naomi Rosenberg, a Detroit fashion industry executive and style icon, who became a designer, globe-trotting photographer, and eventually an international peacebuilder after 9/11 when she worked to unite people of differing faiths against hate.
This year’s Trade Secrets Award Recipient is Yolanda Lewis of Southfield, a May 2022 graduate of Women to Work.
For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Trent Owens at 248-233-4211 or towens@geshermi.org.
Comedy & Cocktails Raises $120K+ for Macomb Community College Arts Programming
Macomb Community College Foundation’s Comedy & Cocktails, which took place Oct. 14, raised more than $120,000 to support the college’s arts and cultural programming, the most the event has raised since its inception in 2014.
This represents an approximately 50 percent increase over the last time the event was staged in 2019, prior to a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the largest ever participation rate, with more than 400 attendees.
The evening concluded with a performance by Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy, an improvisational comedy sketch show in the Macomb Center for Performing Arts. Belushi and his team called upon members of the audience for suggestions for comedic scenes.
The Kevin’s Song 7th Annual Conference on Suicide Returns in Person Jan. 26-28
Michigan’s largest conference on suicide — the Kevin’s Song 7th Annual Conference on Suicide: Building Roads to a Better Tomorrow — announced that registration is now open for the event that features a roster of experts in the field of suicide.
Presented by the Dolores and Paul Lavins Foundation, The Children’s Foundation, and the Joseph J. Laurencelle Memorial Foundation, the conference will be produced by Detroit Public Television and returns to an in-person format Jan. 26-28, 2023 at the St. John’s Resort in Plymouth.
The three-day conference will bring together up to 500 educators, mental health professionals, professional trainees and students, business and community leaders, as well as members of the public, survivors of suicide loss, and attempt survivors. It will address suicide as a public health crisis to better understand and prevent suicide while helping to build pathways to better models of prevention and treatment in order to save lives. It features keynote and breakout sessions as well as supportive resources for attendees.
For full details on the conference, visit here.
