Proud Mitten Shared Kitchen
Marlo Bendon opened Proud Mitten Shared Kitchen in Plymouth in honor of her father. She offers small businesses a way to create their products in an industrial kitchen, but she also fosters them in getting their products on the market. Proud MItten Shared Kitchen is located in the Plymouth Arts & Recreation building in downtown Plymouth. Bendon has created a community of small businesses that can help each other grow.
What’s New? – Never Forgotten Bakery
Michelle Neal, owner of Never Forgotten Bakery in Farmington, stopped by to tell us what’s new. Her bakery is now offering donuts from Donutown in Redford as well as freshly made hotdog and hamburger buns. Stop by her shop on Orchard Lake and 10 Mile or buy products about every other week at the Farmington Farmers Market.
The Flower Project
Operated by Michael Fraley and Brent Grant, The Flower Project is a backyard oasis that cultivates a variety of unique and seasonal cut flowers in Ferndale, MI. Aiming to introduce distinctive and unusual blooms to Southeast Michigan, they specialize in creating special arrangements, providing weekly bouquets, and offering spring bulbs. Weddings, bar mitzvahs, showers, and birthday parties, The Flower Project handles events at any level, from helping with arrangements, or simply providing flowers for your own creativity to bloom. Find their flowers at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, Birmingham Farmers Market, and coming soon to the Grosse Pointe Farmers Market.
Detroit Jerky
Doug and Ally Cohen, owners of Detroit Jerky, took over the business in December 2023 because they loved the product so much. Detroit Jerky offers six different vegan. gluten-free jerky options that are great for snacks, salad toppers and even in stir frys. Their products are available in 15-20 stores and online, with free shipping for orders over $30. Try the spicy mojito inferno or the cherry bomb, with a nod to Michigan cherries.
Salads for Life
Karyn Kennedy is a longtime healthcare worker who founded Salads For Life, starting with her Vinaigrette LIfe dressing. It’s a refrigerated dressing with no preservatives or sugar, and it can be used as a salad dressing as well as a marinade, dip or even a spread on burgers. Kennedy also makes collard green wraps and salads at Proud Mitten Shared Kitchen in Plymouth on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Order ahead for delivery. Look for her Lemon Zest dressing, which is coming soon. Dressings are available at the Woodward Corner Market in Royal Oak.
MJC Marketplace
Kathy Osebold has created a world of discovery at MJC Marketplace in Romeo, MI, where shopping is not just a task, but an experience to remember. From home décor to furniture, antiques to gifts, apparel to gourmet foods, there is something for everyone at MJC. The joy of stumbling upon the perfect piece or uncovering a hidden gem adds excitement to every visit. With 20 unique vendors, and a commitment to providing top-notch service and style, MJC ensures that each customer leaves feeling satisfied and inspired.
Paris Baguette
Moe Zahr, owner of Paris Baguette in Birmingham, told us about some of the unique items you can find in the bakery cafe, including cronuts, which are shaped like a donut but have a flaky croissant texture. Everything in the cafe is baked fresh daily, and there’s a wide variety of treats to choose from, as well as sandwiches and salads. Zahr said Paris Baguette’s Italian blend coffee, called Lavazza, has a unique, sought-after taste. Stop in for seasonal items like the lemon mochi donut, or standard favorites like fruit pastries, cakes and cake slices.
DraftKings Sports & Social
Sam Gruenberg, sales & marketing manager for DraftKings in Troy, stopped by to tell us about this multifaceted sports bar, which features arcade games and skeeball in addition to big-screen televisions for sports events. The menu includes typical “bar food,” but also elevated options like arancini, egg rolls and specialty bowls. This summer, check out the popular dog-friendly patio, or stop by for ladies nights on Wednesdays or handheld Mondays, with specials on sandwiches. The 10,000-plus-square-foot bar and eatery is family-friendly and is located near Somerset Mall.
Wildflour Bakery & Desserts
Alexandra Fabre and Kate Gordon are good friends and now co-owners of Wildflour, a brand new bakery and cafe in Troy. The eatery offers baked goods like croissants, cookies, cinnamon rolls and more, plus sundaes made with Ray’s Ice Cream. Gordon suggests the spicy mango sundae, which is just the right mix of spicy and sweet. You can also find empanadas, sandwiches, tea and coffee. Stop in for a treat or lunch, or contact the business to order a custom cake for your next event.
Stumblebum Beer Co.
Eli Green, owner and proprietor of Stumblebum Beer Co. in Troy, found his love for beer and cheese pairings while living in New York. He’s brought the concept here, to a location across from the Troy Motor Mall, and will serve charcuterie boards with beer, along with paninis, French fry flights and other food. His 24 taps will also include craft soda, hop tonic, cider and mead. The brewery opens for the first time at noon on June 1.
What’s New? – Ground Control Coffee Roasters
What’s new with Ground Control Coffee Roasters in downtown Farmington? They’ve launched a “disloyalty” program whereby customers can get a card stamped at other small coffee shops, and if they get six total, they get a unique coffee mug. It’s a nod to the fact that Ground Control’s customers travel throughout the metro Detroit area and have a common love for coffee, said Trent Chapman, director of operations. Pick up your card at one of six participating businesses listed on Ground Control’s social media sites.
Dodge Park Farmers Market
Lorene Laurence, market manager for the Dodge Park Farmers Market in Sterling Heights, explained how the market creates a “party every Thursday night.” Check out this market for unique experiences like your choice of 12 different food trucks every week, music in the park, fun events like movie nights and a Juneteenth celebration, and more. This market opens June 6 and runs through Sept. 26, and hosts 6,000 to 7,000 shoppers and gatherers weekly.
Walking Lightly
Walking Lightly in Ferndale is a sustainable living destination offering a zero waste store and refillery. It provides a range of eco-friendly products and services aimed at helping community members reduce waste and live more sustainably. In addition to offering local delivery and nationwide shipping of solid sustainable products, Walking Lightly serves as a resource and hub in the community, offering terracycling programs, workshops, composting, and information sharing. Founded by Tessa Benziger, a social worker and mother of three, Walking Lightly embodies a commitment to environmental justice and sustainability, aiming to be both a local and global force for positive change.
Birmingham Farmers Market
Jaimi Brook, events and operations manager for the City of Birmingham, stopped by to tell us about this Sunday market, which runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 660 N. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham. This year, the market will debut the strawberry jam-boree on June 16, plus old favorites like second Sunday fitness events. Browse locally grown products and artisan goods from 40 to 50 vendors every weekend.
Gnomerie Kitchen
Chris Paquet is a trained chef who works at a local restaurant, but he also runs Gnomerie Kitchen out of his home in Farmington Hills. Guests can sign up to enjoy a six-course dinner of small plates, plus dessert and a few surprises, once a month. On May 18, Chris will be serving squab, a game meat. Enjoy this unique “supper club” concept right in Chris’s dining room. You can reserve the whole table of eight, or come and meet new people. Bring your own drinks.
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