The
Detroit Institute of Bagels plans to take a longtime vacant building in Corktown and turn it into its home this year.
The 1-year-old company was founded by brothers Ben and Dan Newman out of their house in Corktown. The business was inspired by Ben's urban planning studies at the University of Michigan and his love of quality bagels. He thought good businesses like a bagel shop, he couldn't think of a good local one in the city, would help fill up the city again.
"I thought it would be a great way to put some of the vacant properties to use and employ people," Ben says.
The brothers have built the business up with catering events and selling their bagels in Eastern Market. Now they have purchased a single-story commercial building at 1236 Michigan Ave. The 1,700-square-foot building has been vacant for decades and needs a complete gut rehab. The brothers hope to complete the rehab this year and open the space up as their retail location.
"We have to update everything, the electrical, the plumbing and the roof," Ben says. "And we have to open a bagel shop."
Source: Ben Newman, co-founder of the Detroit Institute of Bagels
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at
SEMichiganStartup.com.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.