Business Review

Ypsilanti to consider emergency moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities

Katrease Stafford — Tue, 21 May, 2013 5:59 a.m.

The Ypsilanti City Council will consider an emergency ordinance Tuesday to impose a moratorium on the issuing of permits and licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries and grow facilities.

Council member Ricky Jefferson and Mayor Pro Tem Lois Richardson have requested no additional permits and licenses be granted related to medical marijuana until city staff reviews the present density of licenses already granted.

BurgerFi restaurant plans to open near University of Michigan's campus

Lizzy Alfs — Tue, 21 May, 2013 5:56 a.m.

BurgerFi restaurant is preparing to open at 1235 S. University Ave., near the University of Michigan campus.

Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com

BurgerFi, a Florida-based restaurant chain that sells all-natural hamburgers made with grass-fed beef, is preparing to open near the University of Michigan’s campus.

14-story Huron Street high-rise expected back on Ann Arbor City Council agenda tonight

Ryan J. Stanton — Mon, 20 May, 2013 5:36 p.m.

Due to a technicality, the controversial 413 E. Huron St. high-rise development is expected back on the Ann Arbor City Council's agenda at tonight's meeting.

The City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second floor of city hall, 301 E. Huron St.

When the City Council approved the project last week following months of debate, it did not update the site plan date in the adopted resolution, according to city staff.

Michigan startups attract $242 million in venture capital funding in 2012

Ben Freed — Mon, 20 May, 2013 4:30 p.m.

Contrary to the popular entrepreneurial storyline of meteoric rises and quick massive growth, the Michigan venture capital industry continued to grow at a reasonable and steady pace in 2012.

Michigan distilleries gaining momentum thanks to craft cocktail movement

Jessica Webster — Mon, 20 May, 2013 4:10 p.m.

The Last Word co-owners Paul Drennan, Adam Lowenstein, Robben Schulz, Justin Herrick, stand behind the bar filled with specialty drink mixers.

The locavore movement has changed the way many of us think about how and where we source our food, with a focus on fresh and local ingredeints. According to a story today on Michigan Radio, this philosophy is also being applied to cocktails, thanks to the craft cocktail movement. And in addition to fresh local herbs and housemade bitters and syrups, bartenders are increasingly seeking out locally distilled spirits.

In the 80 years since the repeal of Prohibition, alcohol production has been concentrated to a small number of distilleries, but much like we’ve seen with craft beer in the last decade, this trend is reversing. And much like we’ve seen with the craft beer industry, Michigan is taking a lead in the production of quality, regional spirits.

Great Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant on Carpenter Road closes

Ben Freed — Mon, 20 May, 2013 3:10 p.m.

Great Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant on Carpenter Road near Packard Road closed Tuesday, May 14. Landlord Mun Gee said the owners closed due to personal issues she could not comment on.

Public invited to discuss bike lanes, pedestrian crossings and transit improvements on Washtenaw Avenue

Ryan J. Stanton — Mon, 20 May, 2013 5:59 a.m.

Plans for reconfiguring the Washtenaw Avenue corridor between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti will be the topic of discussion at a series of public workshops later this month.

Officials from the city of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti Township and the city of Ypsilanti, working with urban design and transportation consultants, are hoping to get public feedback on future road configuration alternatives proposed as part of the ReImagine Washtenaw initiative.

Internet startup Seelio closes nearly $1 million in funding to give students Web portfolios

Ben Freed — Mon, 20 May, 2013 5:58 a.m.

CEO Moses Lee (center) with co-founder David Jsa (left) and vice president of technology Mike Deming (right) at Seelio's office space in Menlo Innovations.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

In the month leading up to the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, Ann Arbor startups have been attracting a number of venture capital investments.

Web-based startup Seelio, short for “see my portfolio,” is one of four companies that have closed funding rounds recently, completing a seed round that brought in $900,000.

Luxury lofts, commercial space listed for lease at Ypsilanti's Thompson Block

Katrease Stafford — Mon, 20 May, 2013 5:56 a.m.

Thompson Block owner Stewart Beal provided a rendering of what the Thompson Block site will look like by the time construction is completed.

Courtesy Stewart Beal

The Thompson Block property in Ypsilanti has officially been listed. Leases and letters of intent for 16 luxury lofts and about 14,000 square feet of commercial space will be accepted over the next three months.

"Everything is going really well so far," said Howard Hanna real estate agent Tyler Weston, who listed the property Friday. "We've been approached by six different business owners. Even without advertising we've gotten quite a lot of interest. We have three people interested in loft space."

U-M physician killed in weekend crash drew praise from colleagues, patients

Sven Gustafson — Sun, 19 May, 2013 8:46 p.m.

The Ann Arbor internal medicine practitioner who died in an automobile crash on I-94 Saturday was a highly decorated doctor and educator known among his University of Michigan colleagues as a "physician's physician" for his devotion to both the craft and teaching of medicine. Dr. Steven E. Gradwohl was 51.