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.
Pop’s Hani Shop in Royal Oak Celebrates Grand Opening
Pop’s Hani Shop on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak recently celebrated its grand opening.
An outgrowth of National Coney Island, Pop’s Hani Shop — inventors of the Hani Sandwich — serves original Detroit-style pitas and features a menu of customer favorites.
“The idea of Pop’s Hani Shop was built around one of National Coney Island’s most beloved and recognized creations, the Hani sandwich, which has continued to grow in popularity over the years,” says Tom Giftos, president of National Coney Island and Pop’s Hani Shop. “We are thrilled to bring the classic Hani, with some new twists, to life today, while also remaining deeply dedicated to delivering our customers fresh, quality food, at affordable prices that is synonymous with the National Coney Island brand.”
The Hani style of sandwich was born in 1985 by a National Coney Island cook named “Hani” for staff members at their Mack Avenue location. A warm grilled pita featuring breaded chicken, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and signature special mayonnaise, the sandwich evolved to what it is today and has since became its bestselling sandwich.
In addition to a variety of Hani options, Pop’s also offers smash-style burgers, hand-carved gyros, fresh soups made in house each day, fresh salads and slaws with homemade dressings, and warm oven-baked cookies. Pop’s features Michigan-made Brix all-natural cane sugar beverages and Vernor’s Ginger Ale.
For more information, visit popshanishop.com.
Virginia Fire Equipment Company Acquires Fisher Engineering
Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. of Reston, Va. has purchased of Fisher Engineering Inc., a professional services firm specializing in customized fire protection and life safety engineering for public and private customers with offices in Detroit and Charlotte, near Lansing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Fisher provides technical services involving code consulting, commissioning, life safety survey and analysis, systems design, fire, smoke, and egress modeling, performance-based design, litigation and forensic engineering, and third-party reviews.
It works with clients in a broad range of sectors including aviation, data centers, education, fueling, government, health care, hospitality, commercial and industrial real estate, oil and gas, student housing, and technology hubs. Fisher’s workforce of 24 professionals, including Doug Fisher, the firm’s co-founder and principal fire protection engineer, will join Bowman in connection with the acquisition.
Survey: 76% of Small Businesses Feel Well-Equipped to Survive a Recession
The majority of U.S. small business owners (72 percent) are concerned about the impact of a potential recession, however, 76 percent are confident their business could withstand the downturn, according to the Bank of America 2023 Small Business Owner Report (PDF).
The survey of more than 1,000 business owners across the country found that, despite the continued impact of inflation and supply chain issues, 65 percent of business owners anticipate revenue growth in the next 12 months.
Small business owners also were asked about topics including future plans, sustainability, employee retention and labor. Conducted in March and April, other findings include:
- 79 percent of business owners raised prices over the last 12 months.
- 53 percent added benefits and perks to retain talent.
- 49 percent plan to use automation and artificial intelligence (AI) tools for their business in 2023.
- 34 percent believe the national economy will improve in the next 12 months.
“While the dual pressures of inflation and supply chain disruptions continue to incumber operations, small business owners remain bullish about their prospects for the year ahead,” says Sharon Miller, president of small business and head of specialty banking and lending at Bank of America. “Small businesses are poised for growth, implementing strategies to retain and attract talent and exploring new tools including artificial intelligence to gain an edge in a highly competitive market.”
RoboTire Automated Tire-changing System is Now Serving Detroit Customers
RoboTire, a Detroit-based robotics and automation company, has installed its cutting-edge tire-changing system at a Detroit Garage, a tire shop in Livonia.
This marks the first retail operation of a RoboTire system in the company’s home market, and RoboTire’s dedication to supporting the next generation of innovation, manufacturing, and automotive excellence that defines the Motor City.
“We take pride in having our headquarters, manufacturing, and assembly facilities located in Michigan,” says Victor Darolfi, founder and CEO at RoboTire. “Bringing our revolutionary technology to drivers in our home city is a payoff of our mission and further evidence of our investment in the future of mobility innovation coming out of Detroit.”
In addition to debuting a RoboTire system at Detroit Garage, the upstart company recently paired up with Newlab Detroit, a technology collaborative and business hub located in Michigan Central’s Book Depository. RoboTire leadership and engineers will offer guidance and mentorship to startups seeking to develop, test, and launch new mobility-focused concepts. By early 2024, Michigan Central will host various companies that share a common focus on advancing automotive technology.
Report: Apple Secures Top Spot in Cell Phone Market, Shares Lead Among Other 5G Phones
Customer satisfaction with wireless service overall improves 1 percent to a score of 74 (out of 100), according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Wireless Phone Service and Cell Phone Study 2022-2023, which is published out of Ann Arbor.
Mobile network operators (MNOs) and full-service mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) increase 1 percent to 74 each, while value MVNOs expand their lead over the other wireless categories after surging 3 percent to an ACSI score of 77. Customer satisfaction with cell phones is unchanged at 79.
“This year, incremental customer satisfaction growth across three categories of wireless phone service may be a sign that things are moving in the right direction for the industry overall,” says Forrest Morgeson, assistant professor of marketing at Michigan State University in East Lansing and director of research emeritus at the ACSI. “As the demand for wireless services continues to grow, the healthy uptake in 5G capabilities could lead to more satisfied customers in the future. On the manufacturer side, ACSI data show a clear consumer preference for devices with 5G capability across all companies.”
Notable findings in the report include:
- Apple leads all cell phone manufacturers overall after improving 1 percent to an ACSI score of 81. Samsung, which shared the top spot a year ago, is stable at 80. Google inches forward 1 percent to 78, while Motorola slumps 3% to 75.
- Apple and Samsung lead all 5G cell phones at 81 apiece followed by Google (80) and Motorola (76). Among cell phones without 5G capability, Apple earns the highest mark with an ACSI score of 78. Samsung is next at 74, followed by Motorola at 72.
- AT&T regains first place in the MNO category after climbing 3 percent to an ACSI score of 75.
- AT&T and Verizon share best in class for network quality.
Education Groups Release New A-F Grades for Michigan Schools
The West Michigan Policy Forum and Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP) released easy-to-understand A-F grades for the state’s K-12 public schools with data from the 2021/22 school year.
The scorecards show parents, taxpayers, and teachers that student performance is languishing, indicating that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s decision to shut down public schools for an extended period of time during the pandemic most likely had a substantial negative impact on Michigan children.
The new A-F scorecard was released as the governor Gov. considers whether to sign or veto a House bill to repeal the state’s A-F grading transparency law. Both groups are urging the governor to veto the repeal.
“Michigan’s A-F school accountability law is a simple yet effective way to measure our schools based on their performance, but the repeal measure on the governor’s desk is a blatant attempt to hide this key data from Michigan parents,” says John Kennedy, board chair of the West Michigan Policy Forum. “If the repeal is signed into law, the state will revert back to a purposely convoluted way to measure schools that few people can understand. The governor must veto this ill-advised repeal and let our state’s A-F system stand.”
The Michigan Department of Education is currently required by law to publish annual A-F letter grades for each school in the state in five areas — math and reading proficiency; math and reading growth; performance with English language learners; graduation rates; and a comparison of similar schools.
GLEP released a similar report in 2019 after the education department was delayed in publishing its A-F grading report by the required deadline. Beth DeShone, executive director of GLEP, says repealing A-F would take Michigan backward and make our public schools less accountable to parents.
“Legislative Democrats have passed a bill to keep parents in the dark about the performance of our kids’ schools,” DeShone says. “Parents have the right to know how their children are performing in the classroom, and they have the right to know how local schools are performing for their kids. Instead of backing parents, Democrats are cloaking school performance in secrecy.”
The A-F school scorecard, which was calculated using the Department of Education’s publicly available 2021/22 school index data, can be viewed here.
Detroit Opera Board Member Al Lucarelli Passes Away
Alphonse “Al” Lucarelli, a longtime board member, subscriber, donor, and attendee of Detroit Opera passed away May 14 at the age of 83.
“Al Lucarelli will be greatly missed,” says Wayne S. Brown, president and CEO of Detroit Opera. “He was among the giants of Detroit Opera, spanning a 30-year association. His leadership was exemplary. Our organization and community have been enriched through his efforts.”
After moving to Detroit from Florida, Lucarelli became an integral part of Detroit Opera (then Michigan Opera Theatre), joining the board of trustees in 1992, and the board of directors in 1993. He served on the Corporate Fundraising and Finance Committees and would later chair the Nominating and Governance and Development committees.
Lucarelli worked closely with Ford Motor Co. to secure the lead gift and to present the landmark Three Tenors Concert at Tiger Stadium. This event launched the company’s “Building on a Dream” capital campaign, making possible the Ford Center for Arts and Learning. In response to the 2008 national recession, Lucarelli and his friend, then Chairman of the Board Rick Williams, in a campaign to save the opera company from financial ruin by raising $11 million in cash in just 140 days. In 2022, he again provided leadership for a $7.5 million campaign in support of the initial phase to raise $15 million designed to improve accessibility to the Detroit Opera House.
Kids Without Cancer to be featured in Belle Isle Muscle Car Procession
Through an affiliation with the nonprofit Kids Without Cancer, patients from Children’s Hospital of Michigan will enjoy a classic car ride around Belle Isle as part of the closing scene for the film, “Detroit: The City of Hot Rods & Muscle Cars.”
The documentary tells the story of how the Motor City has influenced both hot rodding and the worldwide muscle car culture.
A member of The Rainbow Connection’s Wish Program, Bryce, a 12-year-old boy featured in the film, is scheduled to ride in the lead car, a restored 1969 Trans Am/Firebird from Pontiac’s PMD Garage. Also scheduled in the lead car is renowned Children’s Hospital cancer specialist and childhood cancer survivor Dr. Jeffrey Taub.
On May 19 at 4 p.m., a 20-car procession will start at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Woodward Avenue in Detroit and make its way to Belle Isle’s Flynn Pavilion, where Kids Without Cancer will be hosting a gathering. These children will be invited to take part in a State Police celebration ride around Belle Isle. Several featured parade car drivers are collectors and supporters of the documentary.
“We wanted to close this historic story we’re telling by giving kids struggling with an illness a chance to experience a once-in-a-lifetime ride,” says Keith Famie, producer and director of the film. “The cars on hand are some of Michigan’s — even the country’s — most iconic and valuable muscle cars and hot rods.”
The double-platinum song “Detroit Rock City” will close the film. The famous KISSi anthem will be performed by a youth rock and roll band from the Michigan Rock School in Milford performing at the picnic gathering.
The documentary will premiere is a Father’s Day weekend. The film supports and celebrates six Michigan charitable organizations: The Rainbow Connection, Kids Without Cancer, Heroes Circle, Camp Casey, Gilda’s Club of Metro Detroit, and Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation.
Event tickets are $25 a person and can be purchased here.
The film’s broadcast debut on Detroit Public Television/PBS is June 23 at 8 p.m. and will be shared with affiliated PBS stations throughout Michigan for airing throughout 2023.
Focus: HOPE Job Training Programs Prepare Metro Detroiters for Sustainable Careers
For more than 50 years, Focus: HOPE in Detroit has helped individuals in the community gain the skills, knowledge, and opportunity to secure stable, well-paying jobs. The organization is now looking to fill 100 spots for its job training program.
Focus: HOPE’s job training programs are designed to meet the needs of a changing job market. The organization works closely with local employers to identify the skills and qualifications that are in demand, and then tailors its training programs to ensure that graduates are well-prepared for the workforce.
“We’re constantly updating our job training programs to meet the changing needs of the community,” says Portia Roberson, CEO of Focus: HOPE. “We understand that the job market is always evolving, and we’re committed to ensuring that our graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.”
Focus: HOPE’s job training programs cover a wide range of industries, including advanced manufacturing, information technology, and tree trimming. Each program is designed to provide students with the hands-on training and practical experience they need to excel in their chosen field.
Click here to apply for the Job Training Program.
DIA Presents ‘James Barnor: Accra/London — A Retrospective’
The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) presents “James Barnor: Accra/London — A Retrospective,” a comprehensive survey of the pioneering Ghanaian photographer, marking the first U.S. retrospective of his work.
On view May 28-Oct. 15, the exhibition shows more than 170 photos from Barnor’s archive of over 32,000 images, dating from the 1950s to 1980s and offering views of the artist’s native Ghana, as well as the African diaspora in the United Kingdom, during times of major social and political changes.
Accra/London was initiated and organized by Serpentine, London, which debuted the exhibition in 2021. The DIA’s presentation features additional photographs by Barnor from the museum’s permanent collection. The DIA also will recreate Barnor’s Ever Young portrait studio to give visitors a glimpse of his early artistic environment.
This exhibition continues a series of DIA programs that elevate Black voices from around the world, while building an important literacy about these decades.
For more information about the exhibition, visit dia.org.
The Highlands Auctions Chairs and Raises $115,000 for Local Charities
The Highlands in Harbor Springs recently awarded the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation $75,000 and Habitat for Humanity $40,000 from its “Chairs for Chair-ity” auction.
The monies came from the sale of more than 200 chairs from the resort’s Valley, Camelot, and MacGully lifts that went on sale last month and sold out in mere days with purchasers able to take home a piece of ski history.
The Highlands sold the chairs in preparation for the install of Camelot 6, a six-person, high-speed Doppelmayr D-Line bubble chairlift opening for the coming 2023/24 winter season. The new lift is the first of its kind in the Midwest, and construction currently is underway.
“We are very fortunate to operate a business in this wonderful community,” says Mike Chumber, president and general manager of The Highlands. “There are so many great organizations making a difference, and we are excited to be able align ourselves with the SK8 Park Fund and Habitat for Humanity and support their efforts. Through the generosity of our supporters, we’re proud to donate these funds that will have an impact locally.”
The Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation’s funds will go toward the Harbor Springs SK8 Park, the dream of the late Ted Swarthout who had a vision to create an evergreen concrete skate park in Harbor Springs. The City of Harbor Springs Department of Parks and Recreation is planning significant renovations to the park, following Ted’s vision, and to make the SK8 Park a reality, the Harbor Springs SK8 Park Fund was established as a special project fund of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation. Learn more about the Sk8 Park at hssk8park.wordpress.com.
Habitat for Humanity is a valuable resource helping local families build and improve the places they call home. The Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity is working earnestly to address the housing crisis in northern Michigan by increasing capacity by 400 percent to build 43 homes by 2025 in Emmet and Charlevoix counties. The support of NMHFH not only impacts home building, but also economy, environment, and education, all while building community and hope for a local family. Learn more at northwestmihabitat.org.