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.
New Documentary from Filmmaker Keith Famie Explores Detroit’s Culinary Heritage
A new documentary from Wixom-based filmmaker Keith Famie called “Detroit: The City of Chefs” will debut in the fall of 2024 and be shown on Detroit Public Television.
“Detroit’s culinary heritage is as important to our city’s story as the automobile,” Famie says. “Even during economic downturns, legendary dining spots like the Detroit Athletic Club, the Pontchartrain Hotel, Joe Muer’s, the Roostertail, Mario’s, and the London Chop House were setting standards of excellence for cuisine and service across the world’s stage.”
The film will cover a wide array of Detroit and Michigan culinary topics, including:
- History of the ethnic community, restaurants, and food purveyors
- The early professional chefs, country clubs, and hotels
- The early food critics
- History of chefs as charitable ambassadors to the community
- History of the Michigan Chefs De Cuisine
- Michigan’s culinary colleges
- S. Culinary Olympics
- Ice Carving competitions in Plymouth Township
- Michigan’s Master Chefs
- Kitchen designs and how they evolved
- Matri’d’s and the wine industry
- Today’s leading Metro Detroit restaurants and the next generation of chefs
The documentary by Famie’s team at Visionalist Entertainment Productions promises to tell the unfiltered story Detroit’s culinary heritage.
“Expect to laugh, be inspired, reminisce, and possibly tear up as you join us as we celebrate Detroit’s expansive reputation as an international dining destination,” Famie says.
A charity preview gala is being planned and details will be revealed at a later date.
Direct Marketing Association Event to Feature Speakers from Ford, DTE, Lafayette American
The Direct Marketing Association of Detroit (DMAD) is conducting an education and networking event starting at 9 a.m. on Oct 5 at the Westin in Southfield.
The event, which includes breakfast, lunch, and networking, features six speakers covering a variety of topics in the marketing industry. The speakers include Kim Reedy, senior manager of CRM for Ford Model e; Scott Slagel, director of customer research and insights at DTE Energy; and Toby Barlow and Emily Siegel, CCO and president, respectively, of the Lafayette American agency.
Other speakers will educate attendees on developments in paid social media, SEO, and retargeting with direct mail.
For the full speaker lineup and to register, visit here.
The Whitney in Detroit Bringing Brunch Back This Weekend
The Whitney is Detroit is bringing back its brunch service this weekend starting from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 on Friday, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The Whitney’s brunch features:
- Fresh seasonal starters: Poached pears and marscapone, The Whitney’s Garden Caesar, calamari, and a vanilla yogurt parfait.
- Entrees include gulf shrimp scramble, banana baked French toast, Eggs Sir Whitney with sliced Creekstone Ranch filet, buttermilk biscuits and gravy, crustless quiche, The Whitney’s signature Beef Wellington, and more.
- Fresh juices, mimosas and a lumberman’s bloody Mary are available.
“Brunch at The Whitney is a time-honored tradition,” says Bud Liebler, owner of The Whitney. “Although we paused service after the pandemic, we’re excited to bring it back now, better than ever, and just in time for the fall and holiday season. In addition to traditional breakfast favorites, the new menu also offers heartier lunch options.”
The Whitney also continues its popular tea service on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
For more information and to make your reservations, visit TheWhitney.com or call 313-832-5700.
Kroger Re-opening Livonia Store Today
Kroger will be hosting a grand re-opening of its newly remodeled Livonia store today after more than four months of renovations and improvements.
Located at 33523 Eight Mile Road, the store will officially unveil its $17.4 million renovation, allowing shoppers to explore the store’s updates and expanded sales floor, sample food, take advantage of grand re-opening specials and the first 250 customers will receive a $10 Kroger gift card.
“We can’t wait for our Livonia customers to experience and enjoy our newly renovated store on 8 Mile Road,” says Ken DeLuca, division president for The Kroger Co. of Michigan. “Over the last four months, we’ve expanded this store and added many new amenities with the goal in mind to create the best shopping experience possible for the Livonia community. We appreciate the community’s support during this process and hope everyone can join us in celebrating the grand re-opening.”
The newly remodeled 76,330-square-foot store, which includes an expansion of more than 28,000 square feet, features an expansion to all fresh food departments, a new sushi counter, a new recycling center, the addition of an in-store Starbucks, drive-thru window for pharmacy and more.
Northwood University Students in Midland Preparing for 60th Auto Show
The public is invited to the 60th Northwood University International Auto Show, Oct. 6-8 in Midland.
“This year’s theme is ‘Connect’ because we want to inspire others to come together and connect with students and car fanatics from all different places,” says Cole Briggs, the show’s general chair and a graduate student from Port Huron. “Plenty of business opportunities and friendships are started with their first connections and the building of a network, and we wanted to incorporate Northwood’s role in that by connecting students and businesses alike; and bring people together at our positive family-friendly event.”
The Northwood University International Auto Show is the largest outdoor student-run car show in North America.
This year’s show will display more than 500 vehicles from over 65 manufacturers, vendors, and private owners. Attendees will see a wide range of cars, including rare multi-million-dollar hypercars curated from the Winkleman Collection that is owned by a Northwood alumnus and long-time supporter. There also will be a classic Corvette recently donated to Northwood by Dianne and Michael Morey, of Mount Pleasant, and cars from Rick Hendrick’s private collection. Hendrick is the owner of Hendrick Automotive Group, the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the U.S.
The show also will feature multiple signature events, sports games, photos, interactive booths, and an opportunity to meet with Northwood’s student volunteers who run the entire show. For guests aged 21 and up, alcohol will be served at Tavern 59 from 1-3 p.m. at a stand at Northwood’s Hantz Stadium during the football game, and then from 3-6 p.m. in the Four Seasons space on the Mall Walk. That space will feature live music and a wood-side grill on Saturday, Oct. 7. There also will be food trucks in the Specialty Lot that will give everyone more food options.
A VIP panel is scheduled to take place from 10-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, at Northwood’s DeVos Graduate School of Management. It will feature Paul Bearden, regional manager of Honda; Nikki Paschall, marketing lead at Michigan CAT; Collin Shaw, chief operating officer for Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association; Lori Wittman, president of retail solutions at Cox Automotive; and Mike Schwab, president and CEO at NGK Spark Plugs USA Inc.
A Women in Automotive Roundtable is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 in the McNair Center located in the Plaster Free Enterprise Center on Naegele Drive. The panel is sponsored by CDK Global and will be moderated by Northwood First Lady Mary-Ellen MacPhee.
Panelists will include Susan Michaels, OEM & Partners Development executive for CDK Global; Alicia Thomas, vice president of acquisitions at Capital Automotive; Rita Bragg, vice president of acquisitions at Capital Automotive; Sarah Vantine, vice president of sales at Quantum5; Lisa Kusey-Rechsteiner, Graff Chevrolet partner/owner-operator; Heather Sattler, OEM sales at CDK Global; Jen Cole, vice president of OEM Business at CDK Global; Kathy Gilbert, senior director at CDK Global; Tammy Horner, OEM director of sales at CDK Global; and Diane Schmidt, program manager at CDK Global.
To close out the show, there will be a Cars & Coffee event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Admission is free for the Northwood University International Auto Show.
