by
Vote now! Round one polls close 8/20 at Midnight! http://t.co/C4BvkwUoN2
— Hatch Detroit (@HatchDetroit) August 19, 2015Original article, Monday:
It's time for a run-up to the yearly Hatch Off, which is about incubating newborn businesses and ideas .
Ten fledgling ventures are nominated in the fifth Hatch Detroit Contest, a field that public voting shrinks to four finalists to be announced Friday.
We each can vote here once daily through Thursday night for semifinalists listed below. A voting table will be set up Thursday at the Northwest Detroit Farmers' Market from 4-8 p.m.. Second-round voting for the winner runs Aug. 21-28.
"One savvy entrepreneur [will] win a $50,000 grant to open their brick and mortar retail business in Detroit, Highland Park or Hamtramck," organizers say at their website.
We believe that independent retail helps define the character and personality of city neighborhoods and we built this contest on the idea of crowd entrepreneurship — giving community members a role in the city’s redevelopment. . . .
The four finalists chosen by the public will go on to the Hatch Off, where they pitch their idea to a panel of judges. Their votes alongside the public are tabulated and the winner is announced that same night.
Last year's winner, Sister Pie bakery, opened at Kercheval and Parker in Detroit's West Village neighborhood in April after using shared space in Midtown to serve a few wholesale buyers.
“This year’s semi-finalists have some of the most innovative retail business ideas I’ve seen throughout the contest’s five years,” Hatch executive director Vittoria Katanski says in a handout. Opportunity Detroit co-sponsors this year's contest.
These 10 made the first cut. Click bold names for more details:
► The Royce Detroit: Angela Rutherford and Ping Ho, the founders, envision a shop offering wine and home goods. "We plan to collaborate with local chefs, artists and community developers, and use The Royce Detroit as an event space" for charity fund-raisers and other events.
► Orleans + Winder: A women's fashion boutique is at 52 E. Forest in Detroit through summer. It began in a former in an old Eastern Market brewery at, naturally, the corner of Orleans and Winder streets.
► Bohomodern: Detroit artist Margarita Barry created an online store and holiday pop-up in 2011, featuring original shirts and diverse housewares, accessories, gifts and other items for women, men, kids. She hopes to move from a rented studio in the 71 Garfield Artists Loft building to a retail site next year.
► Norma G's: Caribbean cuisine by FoodLab Detroit member Lester Gouvia, a chef who runs the Demitart Gourmet catering firm, who serves at pop-ups (such as at the Checker Bar in April) and who has a food truck that regularly serves at St. CeCe's parking lot. Now he "looks to establish a brick and mortar location within the city." And yes, the name is a tribute to his mom, Norma Gouvia, "and all she taught me about cooking & creating connections with others."
► Live Cycle Delight: A planned downtown workout studio would offer indoor cycling classes, Bosu and TRX classes, and outdoor meet-up rides.
► Mi Alma Restaurant and Juice Bar: Gary Mui, who was born in Detroit and raised in Ferndale, says: "I love Spanish cooking as well as Italian, Asian and Southern comfort foods. I use all my influences when crafting a meal. I want my food to be as diverse as Detroit is."
► MOR & Co.: "The outdoor store for city folks." As the next step for creators of "a few day-long pop-ups around town," this shop would sell gear, accessories and apparel for picnics, park outings, hikes or long walks, boating, biking, gardening, backyard fun and road trips. It also would host "empowering classes and field trips."
Eskimo Jack Artisan Cookies + Ice Cream
► Eskimo Jacks Artisan Cookies + Ice Cream: Its truck and carts have been at more than 700 events since early 2011. Two scoops of ice cream the business makes are served between cookies. The business now sells packages of three Eskimo Jacks Ice Cream Sandwiches at Buschs Fresh Food Markets, Fresh Thyme, Westborn and Nino Salvaggio.
► House of Pure Vin: Terry Mullins and Andrea Dunbar plan a Sept. 27 "soft opening" for their downtown wine and champagne shop on the on the first floor of Lofts at Merchants Row, 1433 Woodward Ave. with about 3,000 square feet. "We are participating in Hatch to be able to secure our working capital and inventory for this upcoming holiday season . . . and hire additional manpower."
► Motor City Meatball Kitchen: This Warren pop-up serves beef, pork and chicken meatballs, plus pasta, salad and a few other side dishes. "Our partners each have over 25 years of hospitality experience in the Detroit area." They want "to offer our guests an innovative, locally sourced menu, great music and amazing hospitality" somewhere in Detroit.
How to vote: Support one nominee at this page once a day through Thursday night.
