Photo by Monica Morgan
The Detroit Historical Society has released the names of thirty-six Detroit entrepreneurs who will be featured in a series of museum exhibits as a part of The Hustle: Celebrating Detroit’s Unsung Entrepreneurs, its newest effort to dig deep into Detroit’s neighborhoods to uncover and document the stories of the men and women who make everyday life in Detroit special.
The Hustle launched on April 27 and garnered nearly 800 nominations from across Detroit, crossing generations of Detroiters. An independent committee of evaluators selected thirty-six of those nominees to be featured in five museum exhibits that will be staged at the Detroit Historical Museum in 2022 and 2023. Honorees range from a 15- year-old who started an entertainment venue to an old-school DJ who has been spinning for over 30 years; they will be interviewed and photographed to prepare for the first of the quarterly exhibits, which will open on October 8, 2022. Later, the project will feature panel discussions, tours and educational programming offering lots of ways for people of all ages to participate in the celebration. The project will conclude in 2023 with a Grand Ball and a major exhibition.
Elana Rugh, President and CEO of the Detroit Historical Society, says that this program is the latest example of The Society’s commitment to tell all of Detroit’s stories and why they matter. “We have been absolutely thrilled at the amount of support we’ve gotten for this program. As we work to become Detroit’s Museum for the next 100 years, we are committed to making sure that every Detroiter sees themselves on our walls and in our halls. This is just one of many programs and exhibitions that will tell unexpected stories and feature the unsung heroes of Detroit’s history and the interest that the program is garnering is a testament to the fact that we are on the right track. Every Hustle exhibit will open with a FREE Community Open House, and we’re hoping that every one of the nominees will visit to see their names on the walls of the Detroit Historical Museum.”
The Hustle is supported by the Gilbert Family Foundation, Toyota Motor North America, The Auto Club Group/AAA, Bank of America, PNC Bank, JP Morgan Chase and Dykema. Nominations were sought in a variety of categories designed to cover a cross-section of life in Detroit, including the Fixers, the Shop Keepers, the Stylists, the Foodies, the Makers and Creators, the Helpers and Caregivers, Artists and Entertainers, and the Others.
The list of Honorees from each category includes:
The Fixers: · Adrienne Bennett – Benkari LLC (18427 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit)
Michigan’s first female Licensed Master Plumber and Plumbing Contractor. She held several high-profile positions before starting her own company. · Jarrell Lowman – Handy Relocations
Both owners are also hip-hop artists, have built a sustainable moving business from the ground up, generating jobs for Detroiters.
· Orson Porter – Orson’s Collision & Auto Repair (19541 Grand River Ave., Detroit)
Started his business as a teenager in his childhood backyard and has been a go-to neighborhood auto shop owner for 10 years.
Shop Keepers:
· Algernon Bartell – Times Square Clothing / 42nd Street / The MadHatter/ The RedDoor
/ The Shoe Box / Suits 4 Less (19150 Livernois Ave., 17301 Mack Ave., 19164 Livernois Ave., 19330 Livernois Ave., 19186 Livernois Ave., 19131 Livernois Ave., Detroit)
Longtime retailer with four stores on the “Avenue of Fashion” and one on the east side. · Briana Matthews – The Sock Place
Online sock retailer. Gives back to the community by making sure that local schools have socks in wintertime. · Tykia Stokes – Karismas Kloset (19458 Livernois Ave., Detroit)
Customer service driven boutique that has grown to two locations plus an online presence over 10 years in business. · Candace Williams – Barks Fifth Avenue (19359 Livernois Ave., Detroit)
Left a high-stress corporate job to open luxury dog boutique in 2022 and mentors aspiring retailers.
The Stylists: · Danyell Bragg – Hair By Danni Bee (19190 Greenfield, Detroit)
Up and coming Hair Stylist who created scholarship opportunities for local students and workshops to teach skills to aspiring stylists. · Emmalene Hunter – The Fashion Place (Fisher Building, 3011 W. Grand Boulevard,
Suite 114A, Detroit)
40+ year owner of a staple boutique in the New Center area, showcasing the latest in women’s fashion trends. · Frederick Paul II – Fahrenheit 313 (20114 Livernois Ave., Detroit)
Created a sneaker exchange business model to sell the hottest new sneakers and allow Detroiters to re-sell their preowned sneakers. · Lorenzo Pearson – Untouchable Empire Unisex Salon (15758 Wyoming, Detroit)
Successful barber, salon owner, football coach and founder of “The Big Build Up,” an annual neighborhood picnic and family event on the west side.
The Foodies: · Bert Dearing – Bert’s Marketplace and Jazz Restaurant (2727 Russell St., Detroit)
Carrying on a legacy of family entrepreneurship and providing a showcase for Detroit’s arts and music communities in Eastern Market. · Nya Marshall – IVY Kitchen + Cocktails (9215 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit)
Redeveloped a vacant structure on E. Jefferson Ave and opened a full-service sustainable restaurant that also gives back to the community. · Seajoseffer (“Joe”) Spencer – Louisiana Creole Gumbo Restaurant and Food Trucks
(2051 Gratiot Ave., Detroit)
Has helmed the landmark creole restaurant since 1983, serving time-honored family recipes and employing hundreds of community residents. · C. Espy Thomas – Sweet Potato Sensations Bakery (17337 Lahser Rd., Detroit)
30+ year neighborhood destination for sweet treats that also offers community support. · Raphael Wright – Neighborhood Grocery (500 Manistique, Detroit)
Working to drive change by partnering with Black food businesses and opening an equity-crowdfunded grocery store.
Artist and Entertainers: · Cathryn Coleman – Bouncing Around the Motor City (13238 Fenkell, Detroit)
Rehabilitating a 26+ year vacant building into Detroit’s one-stop shop for party/event rentals and balloon décor. · Kelli Cooke and Jordyn Watson – Detroit Selfie Museum (719 Griswold St, Ste. 170,
Detroit)
Mother-daughter duo running a 6,000 square foot immersive photography playground in the heart of downtown Detroit · Carl W. Hollier – “DJ Invisible” & Invisible Entertainment
Groundbreaking DJ, worldwide goodwill ambassador and teacher, sound and lighting engineer and full-service event planning company owner. · Khyiana Tate – Signing with Khy
Deaf teen author who wrote and published an ASL ABC Signing book featuring Black and Brown family and friends.
Creators and Makers: · Luci Butts – Chilled Peels Lemonade
Turned a lemonade stand she started in 2020 into a bottling business that now produces 20 flavors and 2500 bottles weekly. · Ali Evans – GODNII
The only eyewear manufacturer in Detroit and currently the only known minority-owned eyewear manufacturer in the country. · Akil lvin – Digital Detroit Media (DDM)
Started ad agency at 18 years old, now a multimillion-dollar business 9 years later. · Sherrie Savage – Naturally ILLustrated, LLC
Illustrator who creates artwork featuring curls, coils and kinky hair types, coupled with all-ages community coloring events. · Emmanual Smith – “Mr E in the D”
Dean of Culture at University Preparatory Academy-Ellen Thompson who creates fun and exciting academic materials to engage students with math and reading. · M. Kay Willingham – Art in Motion (19939 Livernois Ave., Detroit)
Ceramics studio where artists from around the world share their crafts and community members learn to express their own creativity through art.
Helpers and Caregivers: · Patrick Hines – Functional Fluidics (440 Burroughs St., Ste. 641, Detroit)
Biotechnology company owner who created diagnostic tools to help predict sickle cell disease and other disorders related to abnormal red blood cell function. · Khali Sweeney – Downtown Boxing Gym (6445 E. Vernor Hwy., Detroit)
Founded the nonprofit Downtown Boxing Gym, offering free after school academic and athletic programs, meals and transportation. · Alison Vaughn – Jackets for Jobs (5555 Conner St., Ste. 2097, Detroit)
Celebrating 22 years of providing 31,000+ Detroit job seekers with professional attire to look their best for job interviews. · Latricia Wilder – Vibe Ride Detroit (1026 Randolph St., Detroit)
Fitness studio owner committed to encouraging a healthy mind and body, as well as supporting other entrepreneurs.
Other: · Djenaba Ali – Black Bottom Garden Center (9227 Goodwin Ave., Detroit)
Offers flowers, houseplants, hand tools and more, with an emphasis on customizing portable culinary gardens. · Marc D’Andre – 7Mile Radio
Online independent radio/TV broadcast company reporting on news and crime in the city for more than 15 years. · Richard Blanding – Scrap Soils (21566 Orchard St., Detroit)
Since 2020, Scrap Soils has collected and composted 52,000+ gallons of food waste with on-site operations.
· Arthur C. Davis – “A Work of Art” Executive Protection
Longtime security professional providing personal security/executive protection for top Detroit names in addition to visiting performers and celebrities. · Mykolas Rambus – Hush
Privacy protection firm committed to building a tech ecosystem in Detroit. · Tyrell Slappey, Terrance Crowell, and Markita Richardson – Round 1 Gaming Lab
Created a mobile video game trailer that has become a community entertainment staple for all ages.
The Detroit Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization located in Midtown, the heart of Detroit’s cultural center. Founded in 1921, its mission is to tell Detroit’s stories and why they matter. Today, the Society operates the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. In addition, the Society is responsible for the conservation and preservation of nearly 300,000 artifacts that represent three centuries of our region’s rich history. Through its museum exhibits, school tour programs, community-based programs and history-themed outreach efforts, the Society serves more than 150,000 people annually. For more information on the Detroit Historical Society, visit detroithistorical.org.
The Detroit Historical Museum is located at 5401 Woodward Ave. (NW corner of Kirby) in Midtown Detroit. The Detroit Historical Museum is open to the public Thursday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., with enhanced health and safety measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Permanent exhibits include the famous Streets of Old Detroit, Detroit 67: Perspectives, the Allesee Gallery of Culture, Doorway to Freedom: Detroit and the Underground Railroad, Detroit: The “Arsenal of Democracy,” the Gallery of Innovation, America’s Motor City and The Glancy Trains. Additional historical content and virtual tours and exhibits are available at detroithistorical.or