Birmingham Life, MI June 2020

JUNE 2020

CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

Gents ' Issue

BEYOND JUICE CONTINUES MAKING CUSTOMERS FEEL GREAT

GRIFFIN CLAW GROWS THANKS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT

PERUVIAN MARINATED PORK LOIN WITH APPLE CHIMICHURRI

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Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rates and program terms are subject to change without notice. Visit usbank.com to learn more about U.S. Bank products and services. Mortgage and Home Equity Products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit Products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC. ©2019 U.S. Bank.

LIFESTYLE LETTER

JUNE 2020 PUBLISHER

Tobin Clark | tobin.clark@lifestylepubs.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Danielle Alexander | danielle.alexander@lifestylepubs.com

It's June!

TYPICALLY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WOULD BE FILLED WITH GREEN

AD DESIGNER

Evan Deuvall LAYOUT DESIGNER

Jayme Emery

GRASS, GREEN PLANTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BARBECUES

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

AND SUMMER SPORTING EVENTS. While things sure have changed in 2020, my

Laura McCaffery

feeling is those things can all still be done. They can be done even if the physical distance between us has to be a little bit more than it was before. I know I, for one, will be at a Tigers' game as soon as baseball is going again!

The month of June is reserved for our Gents' issue, featuring local gentlemen that highlight what epitomizes what the Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills community is all about. As our community rebounds and emerges from the Covid-19 impact, let's be sure to support our local businesses. I have always believed in trying to buy local products, but now, more than ever, we need to support our local restaurants and businesses.

Stay strong, stay positive and, with the support of our community, we are going to make it!

Cheers,

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Tobin Clark, Publisher

ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | CONNECTICUT | FLORIDA | GEORGIA IDAHO | ILLINOIS | KANSAS | MARYLAND | MASSACHUSETTS | MICHIGAN MINNESOTA | MISSOURI | MONTANA | NEVADA | NEW JERSEY | NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA | OHIO | OKLAHOMA | OREGON | PENNSYLVANIA SOUTH CAROLINA | TENNESSEE | TEXAS | VIRGINIA | WASHINGTON

ON THE COVER Signature Oak Stables in Dexter, Mich., owned by Rob and Liz Haar

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE CRAWFORD PRODUCTIONS 4

Birmingham Life | June 2020

514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Birmingham Life™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Birmingham areas’ most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Birmingham Life™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

The foundation of beautiful design Celebrating with our customers and community for 81 years

RUGS

•

CARPET

•

STAIR RUNNERS

•

RUG CLEANING

•

RUG REPAIR & RESTORATION

850 S. Old Woodward • Curbside Available 248-646-RUGS (7847) • HagopianRugs.com

INSIDE THE ISSUE JUNE 2020 FEATURES 16 Peruvian Marinated Pork Loin with Apple Chimichurri Make this different, easy-to-make and lighter entree for Father’s Day this year.

22 Making People Feel Great Even throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, Beyond Juice continued “being the best of someone’s day.”

26 All About the Community Griffin Claw Brewing Company continues to grow thanks to community support.

22 30

30 Local Gents A Q/A with five local business owners.

16

26 DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

8

Good Times

10

Around Town

12

Locally Owned

16

Culinary Creations

26 Food & Wine 30 Inspired By

GOOD TIMES

Henry Ford Health System keeps spirits up through "well wishes" The Well Wishes campaign invited anyone to send notes to patients recovering without loved ones due to visitor restrictions during COVID-19, as well as healthcare heroes from housekeeping to nurses and doctors. As of April, more than 8,000 well wishes and messages have been sent to wellwishes@hfhs.org. For more information about the campaign, visit henryford.com/wellwishes. Photos courtesy of HFHS.

LUXURY HOMES BUILT FOR THE MODERN LIFESTYLE 248.240.3051 | prmcustombuilders.com 8

Birmingham Life | June 2020

Peas & Carrots Hospitality offered "Pantry Boxes" to the community Peas & Carrots Hospitality teamed up with local farmers and non-profits to offer "Pantry Boxes," which included fresh produce, bread, meat and more that were available for contactless curbside pick-up. These boxes were an instant success at all the locations (Beau's Grillery, Como's, MEX and Social), helping local businesses and farmers at the same time. Photos courtesy of Social.

248.224.9169 | partners@dandavisdesign.com | dandavisdesign.com

CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

9

AROUND TOWN

Always on the cutting edge of technology, Dr. Meininger is excited to be the first boardcertified plastic surgeon in the state of Michigan to offer BodyTite and FaceTite, the perfect answer to skin-tightening and body-contouring in situations where an incision would be too much.

free

BLOOMFIELD STUDENTS CREATE OUTLET FOR CHILDREN/TEENS AMIDST CORONAVIRUS

IS Clinical Skin Care Kit

with Purchase of Facetite or Morpheus Procedure

36880 Woodward Avenue, Suite 2013 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304

248.269.4100

meiningerplasticsurgery.com

Siblings Jack and Sammy Pollack were feeling a lot of different emotions during the COVID-19 crisis, and assuming others their age were in the same boat, decided to start a website called "Quaranteen Help" where children and teens can reach out if they are having problems, feeling down or just want to talk. "Connecting with others and writing down feelings can better our mood, especially during times like these," their website reads.

"We are in this together, and it’s important to stay positive and connected." For more information, visit

BI G R OCK

quaranteenhelp.com.

CHOPHOUSE

bigrockchophouse.com

GOTROCKS A DIAMOND CROWN CIGAR LOUNGE

gotrockscigarlounge.com

thereservebirmingham.com

LOCAL RESIDENT CREATES ALERT APP TO USE WHILE SHOPPING Sheldon Cohn, West Bloomfield resident and for-

THREE OF THE AREA’S MOST CELEBRATED ESTABLISHMENTS, ONE PREMIUM LOCATION.

mer advertising executive at Doner, said he started

245 S. ETON STREET, BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN • 248.647.7774

working on his app "NeedAnything?" five years ago because he and his wife would always say to

10

Birmingham Life | June 2020

each other, "How come you didn't tell me you're going to the store?," and Cohn wondered why his phone just couldn't tell her. NeedAnything? provides the easiest and fastest way to send an alert to the people you choose that you are out shopping and ask if they need anything. The app is free to download.

Inspired by Community

BALDWIN LIBRARY'S IDEA LAB PRODUCES FACE SHIELDS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS To assist with COVID-19 relief efforts, Baldwin Public Library's Idea Lab produced protective face shields for local hospitals and first responders.

These shields were an important part of the protective equipment worn by medical professionals and acted as the first line of defense by preventing viral particles from reaching faces. Across the volunteer group, with 11+ printers running simultaneously, the team was producing face shields at a rate of about 500 per day; however, once injection molding began, total production increased to 1500+ per day.

THE BIRMINGHAM TAILOR MAKES FREE MASKS The Birmingham Tailor, located

It’s time to think

locally ADVERTISE WITH US

to deliver your message to the most affluent families in our community.

at 139 W Maple Rd in Downtown Birmingham, made free masks to protect those in hospitals as well others in the community who were in-need. Ali Cheaib and his wife Lisa spent about 10 hours a day, every day,

lifestylepubs.com/advertise

carefully sewing masks and giving them away, free of charge.

CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

11

LOCALLY OWNED ARTICLE DANIELLE ALEXANDER | PHOTOGRAPHY LAURA MCCAFFERY

support local!

AND COURTESY OF ROCHE BOBOIS AND HAGOPIAN

LOCAL BUSINESSES NEED US MORE THAN EVER. THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 DRAMATICALLY CHANGED ALL OF OUR LIVES IN A MATTER OF DAYS, AND SMALLER BUSINESSES HAVE, UNFORTUNATELY, TAKEN ONE OF THE HARDEST HITS. Since our local business owners and their employees need us more than ever, it’s time to rally! Consider supporting these six local businesses before looking elsewhere:

DAN DAVIS DESIGN 707 East Lewiston (Suite 102), Ferndale (248)-224-9169 dandavisdesign.com Dan Davis Design is a client-centric, award-winning and widely published full-service interior design firm in metro Detroit. They draw from their exceptionally-diverse design strengths to translate their clients’ wishes into beautiful realities and not only believe each and every one of their clients has a unique beauty to his or her style but also that their work should reflect that.

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Birmingham Life | June 2020

THE ROBOT GARAGE 637 S. Eton Street, Birmingham (248)-723-9100 therobotgarage.com The Robot Garage is a maker space that teaches engineering and robotics to kids. Its mission is to create an “aha” moment every day for every guest and to inspire the innovators of tomorrow with fun, hands-on engineering experiences. The Robot Garage offers classes, parties, field trips and summer camps, as well as an online retail shop.

HAGOPIAN

ROCHEBOBOIS

850 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham

394 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham

(248)-646-RUGS (7847) originalhagopian.com Whether it’s cleaning a carpet or educating someone about the floor covering that fits their lifestyle, the Hagopian family has always maintained the highest level of customer service.

Celebrating 81 years this year, Hagopian has a location not only in Birmingham but Novi, Oak Park, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Clarkston, Plymouth and Utica, as well. Services offered include in-home cleaning, rug repair, rug cleaning, air duct cleaning, com-

(248)-833-0300 roche-bobois.com/en-US/showrooms/ birmingham-michigan Roche Bobois is a world leader in furniture design and distribution.

Right in Downtown Birmingham, you can discover all the elements that make Roche Bobois’ offerings so unique: innovative new collections and a team of experienced design consultants who can help you plan your project at every stage of the process, including product selection, customization and advanced 3D planning.

mercial cleaning and cushion cleaning. Additionally, Hagopian sells flooring and rugs.

hagopian

rochebobois

BIG ROCK CHOPHOUSE 245 S. Eton Street, Birmingham (248)-647-7774 bigrockchophouse.com Big Rock Chophouse has a 4-star, award-winning menu that bursts with flavorful recipes centered around enormous, hand-cut aged steaks, delicious lamb chops and the freshest seafood. A recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 16 consecutive years, Big Rock also features an extensive wine cellar, complete with more than 400 fine wine and champagne selections. Big Rock is also open for lunch daily, featuring a special price fixed lunch menu with three courses that changes weekly.

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LOCALLY OWNED (CONTINUED)

how can you help our local businesses?

1.

Think local before heading over to/ordering from a big business or chain, so you can help keep money in the community as much as possible.

2.

SPA MARIANA

Purchase gift cards or gift certificates if you don’t have immediate need but know you will eventually use a local business’ products or services.

223 N. Eton Street, Birmingham & 6447 Inkster Road, Bloomfield Hills (248)-792-2050 spamariana.com For the last two years, Spa Mariana owner Maciek Lyko has traveled to different parts of Europe to experience and find only the best treatments to bring to his spas in Michigan, and he is excited to be the first spa in the state to include a foot sanctuary at his new Birmingham location

3.

that opened in April. All therapists at Spa Mariana are licensed with

SUPPORT LOCAL! PP

ORT

LOCAL B US

SUPPORT LOCA

LOCAL BU S

IN

UPPORT LOCA S S L

S ES

ORT

SU

P UP

ES

LS

extensive, advanced training.

4.

5.

Refer friends/family to all of the local businesses you love; you may not be in need of a particular product or service, but someone else might be.

Leave reviews for your favorite local businesses.

Share local businesses’ social media posts onto your own social media pages; you never know who of your friends might be in need of that product or service.

IN

Independent Insurance Agency Working for You! CALL US FOR YOUR BUSINESS START UP

Committed to Our Community

One Life at a Time • Personal Insurance • Commercial Insurance 14

Birmingham Life | June 2020

• Financial Insurance • Health Insurance

Insurance Management Consultation

- CONTACT LUCRETIA 41000 Woodward Ave. | Bloomfield Hills

248.642.6004

www.hollidayinsurancecompany.com | lucretia@hollidayinsurancecompany.com

CULINARY CREATIONS

peruvian marinated pork loin KYLE MCCAFFERY HAS BEEN COOKING PROFESSIONALLY FOR 15 YEARS, SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF HIS RESTAURANT YEARS AT TRIBUTE IN FARMINGTON, FORTE IN BIRMINGHAM AND NOMI IN NORTHVILLE; HOWEVER, FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, HE HAS

WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR FOR FATHER’S DAY? TRY THIS DIFFERENT, EASY-TO-MAKE AND LIGHTER ENTREE.

BEEN AT PLUM MARKET WHERE HE SAID HE HAS PROGRESSED FURTHER THAN HE HAS EVER IMAGINED. “We have wonderful partnerships with companies like Niman Ranch, Snake River Farms, Zingerman’s and many others that represent the same qualities and standards in

ARTICLE DANIELLE ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY LAURA MCCAFFERY

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Birmingham Life | June 2020

food that we do,” McCaffery said. “I have been the Chef de Cuisine at each of our four Michigan large format stores and, for the last 1.5 years, have been overseeing the Plum Market

GRILLING TIP Utilize any stove burners or hanging racks in a grill to make it your multi-tasking cooking station.

Licensing locations, including Detroit Metro Airport,

McCaffery said the kurobuta pork loins are from a cer-

Oakland University, The Henry Ford and Butler University.”

tain breed of pork, which comes from the same lineage

With Father’s Day approaching, McCaffery is sharing

of Black Berkshire pigs that have been raised for many

his Peruvian Marinated Pork Loin with Apple Chimichurri

years. The difference in meat products from these pigs

recipe, an entree he thought would be different, easy to

compared to others is that they are bred to have incredible

make and may appeal to those looking for something

fat marbling throughout the meat, much like wagyu beef.

lighter to eat.

As for pairings, McCaffery believes this dish would be best

“It will satisfy people looking for a delicious cut of meat

with a Malbec as it would complement the flavors very well. As

but isn’t an overly rich meal to eat,” McCaffery explained.

for side dishes, he said the dish screams for something starchy

“It works as a dish for the whole family to eat and enjoy

to balance it out, such as garlic roasted yukon potatoes or even

together, which is the best gift for any father and his family

a nice potato salad. Roasted baby carrots or grilled asparagus

on Father’s Day.”

would be great vegetable choices to serve, as well.

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

17

CULINARY CRE ATIONS (CONTINUED)

GRILLING TIP Always let any meat coming off the grill rest for 5-10 minutes. It’ll be juicier!

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Birmingham Life | June 2020

pork marinade + 2 kurobuta bone-in pork loin, approximately ½ lb each + ½ cup cilantro leaves + Juice of one half lemon + Juice of one half lime + 3 garlic cloves + 2 tbsp champagne vinegar + 1 tsp cumin + 1 tsp kosher salt + ½ tsp paprika + ½ tsp black pepper + ½ cup olive oil DIRECTIONS Place pork loins in a reclosable plastic bag, approximately one gallon size. Using a small food processor or hand blender, blend the remaining ingredients together to create the marinade. Pour the marinade into the bag with the pork loins, squeeze out the remaining air and seal the bag.

Refrigerate for a minimum of two hours. While this is marinating, you can prep the chimichurri.

To grill the pork loin, it is important to have the grill preheated to 500 degrees for the best results.

Remove the pork loin from the marinade and wipe off the excess marinade from them. Place the pork loin on the grill for two minutes without moving to get the best grill marks. Rotate them 90 degrees and cook for another two minutes. Flip pork loin to the other side and follow the same set of instructions to get those perfect diamond grill marks on each side.

Leave the pork loins on the grill until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

Remove from the heat and let rest on a tray for 10 minutes. This resting period will let the meat relax and the juices disperse through the meat evenly for perfect, juicy pork loin. The loins will continue to cook and the final temperature will be closer to 140 degrees, for a perfectly cooked kurobuta pork loin.

CONTINUED >

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19

CULINARY CRE ATIONS (CONTINUED)

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Birmingham Life | June 2020

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apple chimichurri + ½ cup parsley, minced + ¼ cup cilantro leaves, minced + 1 green apple, cut into ¼” cubes + Zest of 1 lime

Before you even list your home for sale on the MLS with a realtor, let us tell you what will come up on a buyer’s home inspection. Then you’ll have time to hire contractors to correct the major issues found rather than risk losing a buyer due to a major issue found by their inspector that you didn’t know about, or have to negotiate with a buyer who wants more money off on the sale price than it would have cost to have the issue corrected ahead of time.

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+ Zest of 1 lemon + Zest of 1 orange

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+ 4 cloves of garlic, minced + 1 tbsp orange juice, fresh squeezed + 1 tsp salt + 1 tsp champagne vinegar DIRECTIONS Prep all ingredients as described and mix together with a spoon. This can be made up to two hours ahead of time. When finished, place in a covered bowl or container and refrigerate until serving.

When the pork loins are cooked, spoon the Apple Chimichurri liberally over them, letting the flavors seep together, creating the perfect balance of fresh and savory flavors in this dish.

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+ 1 tsp red pepper flake

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CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

21

ARTICLE DANIELLE ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BEYOND JUICERY + EATERY

MAKING PEOPLE F E E L G R E AT 22

Birmingham Life | June 2020

BEYOND JUICERY + EATERY IS KNOWN ALL OVER METRO DETROIT FOR NOT ONLY SERVING HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS SMOOTHIES AND WRAPS BUT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL GREAT. Even amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, Beyond Juicery + Eatery continued giving customers a memorable experience as 11 of 14 locations remained open, offering both curbside pickup and delivery.

Founder and CEO Mijo Alanis said the Renaissance Center, Somerset and Equinox locations had to close, but measures were put in place at the others, so that staff members felt both safe and supported.

“People, community and brand are the three reasons we decided to stay open,” Alanis said back in April. “I call it the three-prong approach.”

PEOPLE

Alanis said that he had always wanted to implement daily check-ins with

franchisees but, as a result of the crisis, fell into it this spring.

“Every single day, franchisees are getting calls from us, letting them know we’re here and to see if they have any questions,” Alanis explained. “Seems like everyone around us is afraid, and we need to make sure our store owners are not, or else it could cause its own sort of virus inside of the stores. Our goal in doing this has been to calm their nerves.”

In addition to franchisees, Alanis said they were in constant contact with vendors, as well, ensuring that the supply chain and quality is still there.

“We get our produce in fresh every other day right now,” Beyond Juicery +

EVEN THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK, BEYOND JUICERY + EATERY CONTINUED “BEING THE BEST OF SOMEONE’S DAY.”

Eatery vice president Elliot Disner said in an April interview with FOX 2 Detroit.

“It’s normally every day, but we went down to every other day because our suppliers are trying to make due with their smaller crews.”

Beyond Juicery + Eatery mainly uses local suppliers, always trying to first source in Michigan. For example, both the peanut butter and almond butter used to make smoothies come from Germack Pistachio Co. in Eastern Market.

Lumetta Produce in Madison Heights is another main supplier, as well.

“We needed all of our people to know we care, are listening and will remain in their corner the entire time,” Alanis said.

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

23

MAKING PEOPLE FEEL GREAT (CONTINUED)

COMMUNITY

With some team members working from home, Alanis said Beyond Juicery + Eatery

also embraced the opportunity to connect with customers, calling people on a daily basis in order to figure out what they wanted and what they really needed during the crisis.

“We’re going hour by hour and day by day, not only listening to our customers but finding creative ways to keep things going,” Alanis said. “None of this could have happened without my creative team.”

Basic grocery items including eggs, milk, leafy greens, bread, fruit and even toilet paper were available for same-day curbside pick-up or delivery at eight locations, as well as a variety of kit options: + “Juice Lovers Kit,” which came with 12 assorted bottled juices and 12 assorted bottle shots, + “Fiesta Kit!” that had 12 oz. of Beyond Juice’s fresh salsa, ingredients and instructions to make fresh guacamole and Aunt Nee’s Tortilla Chips, + “Party Kit!,” which included one pint of grape tomatoes, ½ pound of carrots, ½ pound of celery, 12 ounces of Beyond Juice Hummus, 12 ounces of Beyond Juice Salsa and Aunt Nee’s Tortilla Chips, + Kits for Kids, such as “Apple Sauce!” that came with instructions and ingredients for kids to make their own applesauce, and “Smoothies!,” which had instructions and ingredients for kids to make their own fruit smoothies, as well as accompanying activity sheets + And so many more.

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Birmingham Life | June 2020

“Along with many other restaurants and businesses in the area, we wanted to be another option,” Disner said in his interview with FOX 2. “It’s just really cool to see the community pulling together, making food as accessible as possible to everyone in all these communities we’re in.”

BRAND

Alanis said that when the other side of the crisis is reached, the

Beyond Juicery + Eatery brand still needs to be there.

“The future as of today looks like a blend of what we use to do, and some of what we are doing today,” he said. “We are closer to our guests and employees more so than ever, and our curbside app ordering is great for us and the guests. New stores will surely be built with this in mind.”

Beyond Juicery + Eatery currently has locations in Downtown Birmingham (off Maple), Southfield, Somerset Mall (Troy), Birmingham (off Cole), Eastern Market (Detroit), Equinox (Bloomfield Hills), Grosse Pointe Woods, West Bloomfield, Northville, Shelby Township, Clarkston, Rochester Hills, New Center and the Renaissance Center (Detroit) with others opening in the near future.

For more information, visit beyondjuiceryeatery.com.

CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

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FOOD & WINE

ARTICLE DANIELLE ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GRIFFIN CLAW

All About the Community GRIFFIN CLAW BREWING COMPANY CONTINUES TO GROW THANKS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT. GRIFFIN CLAW BREWING COMPANY FOUND ITS HOME IN A BIRMINGHAM NEIGHBORHOOD OFF ETON STREET IN 2013.

Owned by Mary Nicholson and Bonnie LePage, Griffin Claw prides itself on having a culture of growth, and with only its seven-year anniversary approaching next month, no one can deny it.

Whether at Birmingham’s taproom or Rochester’s production facility, Griffin Claw is always striving for greatness, something Griffin Claw’s Director Scott LePage said is possible to achieve because of the amazing community.

26

Birmingham Life | June 2020

BIRMINGHAM’S TAPROOM Dan Rogers, Griffin Claw’s brewmaster, has been brewing since 1991, but it was not until 2004 when Rogers began working “his magic” at Big Rock Chophouse in Birmingham that the unofficial start of Griffin Claw took place.

Guests at Big Rock, specifically Michigan’s beer enthusiasts, began noticing his beers, and a few years later, he earned several Great American Beer Festival awards, as well as two World Beer Cup medals: a silver for Bonnie’s Raggedy Ass (Griffin Claw’s Imperial IPA that was on tap this year in March and April) and a gold for Norm’s Raggedy Ass (a year-round IPA offered at Griffin Claw).

Griffin Claw’s other year-round beers on tap include Mr. Blue Sky, an American Wheat Ale; Pilsner By Default, a Pilsner; El Rojo, a Red Ale; You Figure It Out, a Coconut Vanilla Milk Stout; and Haze Force, an Intergalactic Hazy IPA. However, this summer, Griffin Claw guests can also expect the draft El Ligero, a Mexican Lager with Lime; Mr. Blue Sky Raspberry, a Wheat Ale; and Flying Buffalo Raspberry Chocolate, as well.

As of January this year, Griffin Claw actually launched its first ever seltzer line, adding a local option to the seemingly ever-growing seltzer market. Griffin Claw’s Marketing Director Christopher Lasher said Rogers experimented and perfected the seltzer recipe for about a year and after extensive sampling, landed on a variety of flavors.

“Different from the rest of the seltzer market, our cans are 16-ounces versus 12-ounces,” Lasher explained. “Since we competitively priced them with existing brands already on the market, you’re really getting more seltzer for the price you’re paying. Plus, they’re the perfect size.”

In addition to the beer, Lasher said there is always a seltzer on draft at the taproom, as well as a variety of ciders and meads made by Ian Radogost-Givens, who joined the Griffin Claw team in August of 2019.

“ We’r e r e a l l y a g o o d m e e t i n g p o i n t fo r b o t h o u r neighbors and the surrounding communities.”

“In addition to food and beer, we’re here to offer a variety of drink types that all kinds of people would want,” Lasher said. “All of our spirits, cider, mead and seltzer are made in-house.”

Griffin Claw’s wines include Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, Riesling, Rose and Zinfandel and are carefully crafted from the vineyards of Northern Michigan exclusively for Griffin Claw.

CONTINUED >

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FOOD & WINE (CONTINUED)

“ I n a d d i t i o n t o fo o d a n d b e e r, w e’r e h e r e t o o f fe r a v a r i e t y o f d r i n k t y p e s t h a t a l l k i n d s o f p e o p l e w o u l d w a n t . A l l o f o u r s p i r i t s , c i d e r, mead and seltzer are made in-house.”

ROCHESTER’S PRODUCTION FACILITY Referred to by Scott LePage as the “Think Tank,” Griffin Claw’s production facility in Rochester is where most of the specialty beers and ciders/meads are made, as well as spirits, including Griffin Claw’s Grain Vodka, Potato Vodka, Gin, Rum, Whiskey, Schnapps and more.

Amidst the coronavirus outbreak in the spring, hand sanitizer was actually made in this production facility, too. Griffin Claw started using its distilled spirits to make hand sanitizer in order to keep their employees working; later, they decided to also give away a two-ounce bottle with every take-out order in addition to frontline workers in need.

As of now, the Rochester facility, which is twice the size of the Birmingham location, is just used for production; however, Lasher said they would like to add a tasting room in Rochester Hills one day, as well.

SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY Located in Birmingham’s emerging rail district, Griffin Claw’s traditional outdoor biergarten is not only attracting locals.

“We’re really a good meeting point for both our neighbors and the surrounding communities,” Scott LePage said. “The environment is always friendly, even kid-friendly.”

Griffin Claw Brewing Company in Birmingham is located at 575 South Eton Street. For more information about this Michigan microbrewery or to check out the food menu, visit griffinclawbrewingcompany.com or call (248)-712-4050.

“Our path to get where we are has been a quick one, but it’s because of our people,” Griffin Claw’s website reads.

“We are centered around young, hungry, active beer enthusiasts– with a foundation of grizzled vets. Our love for this Great Beer State is increased as the days go on, and we love the industry that we’re in.”

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Birmingham Life | June 2020

Photo Michel Gibert, for advertising purposes only. Special thanks: TASCHEN.

Profile. Velvet sofa, designed by Roberto Tapinassi & Maurizio Manzoni.

Lounge chair, ottoman and cushions upholstered in Jean Paul Gaultier fabrics.

Octet. Cocktail tables, design Roberto Tapinassi & Maurizio Manzoni.

Manufactured in Europe.

BIRMINGHAM, MI - 394 South Old Woodward Avenue - Tel. (248) 833-0300

CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

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INSPIRED BY

ARTICLE DANIELLE ALEXANDER

LOCAL GENTS A Q/A WITH FIVE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE RETAIL BUSINESS?

I never imagined myself working in the retail business. I also never thought I would start my own business and lifestyle brand. However, I’ve always had an eye for fashion, and it wasn’t until I went through a personal experience that I found the motivation to start Dare to be /Yer’self/. I thought deeper about how

ty davis

this brand can impact others, and that’s when

I decided to create a new empowerment slogan each month. For example, we partnered with Karmanos Cancer Institute to release Dare to be /Cur’ed/ in October. By doing this each month, our clients look forward to seeing our new product. Most recently, we partnered with a local pizza business and local front-line workers to private free food and free shirts for each purchase during COVID-19.

WHY DETROIT? I’ve always been passionate about the city of Detroit. As Dare to be /Yer’self/ is a motivational brand, I felt that we could use our initiatives to empower others as the city continued to rise.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED AS A BUSINESS OWNER? One of my mentors once told me, “Tough

DARE TO BE /YER’SELF/ AGE: 27 DETROIT

times don’t last, but tough people do!” Ever since hearing this, I have never looked at tough times in the same way. I have grown to overcome adversity.

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Birmingham Life | June 2020

Courtesy of Hungry Dog Media, LLC

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE RETAIL BUSINESS? I have always been a retailer. It started with my first job when I was 16. I have been in retail for 38 years, most of that time spent in the ski business.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED AS A BUSINESS OWNER? My mentor in the ski business was John Held, the founder of Bavarian Village Ski Shops. He always told us, “All that mattered was making customers happy.” Is there

WHY BIRMINGHAM? It really puts us within arm’s reach of the majority of our customers. It is also a great fit for us as Birmingham is

a more simple message in retail? It is not necessarily as simple as it sounds, but I have always made that a goal with every customer, and it works.

identified with being the premier specialty shop destination in metro Detroit and maybe beyond.

DON THOMAS SPORTHAUS

paul hansen

AGE: 54 BIRMINGHAM

“ ’A l l t h a t m a t t e r e d w a s m a k i n g c u s t o m e r s h a p p y.’

Is there a more simple message in re tail?”

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI

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INSPIRED BY (CONTINUED)

dan davis and paul johnson DAN DAVIS DESIGN AGES: 57 AND 52 FERNDALE PAUL, HOW DID YOU GET INTO INTERIOR DESIGN? I grew up in a family floor covering business where I had the opportunity to not only work with a lot of amazing designers but to learn a lot about color, texture, appropriateness, scale and, you know, all those crazy design things (I didn’t realize how much I learned until I actually had to put the concepts into practice as a working interior designer). I eventually ended up working in an area rug showroom in the Michigan Design Center where I met Dan; we clicked, we began working together and, before I knew it, we were business partners.

DAN, HOW DID YOU GET INTO INTERIOR DESIGN? I was always drawn to any form of design. I started out as an art director in advertising, made it up the ladder, but as I did, it became more about meetings and less about actually doing the creative work. So, 13 years ago, I decided to switch to interior design, and it’s been incredible. I get to be creative every day.

PAUL, WHY METRO DETROIT? AND WHY SPECIFICALLY FERNDALE? I grew up in West Michigan and needed a bigger and more inclusive playground, so I moved east. As I spent time getting to know the various areas and cities, I found myself drawn to the inclusivity and diversity of Ferndale. It is very much a small town in the middle of a huge metro area, and I absolutely love it and am so glad that I settled not only in the Detroit Metro area but in Ferndale specifically.

DAN, WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED AS A BUSINESS OWNER? Both in business and in my personal life, the best advice I ever received was to be grateful. Someone is always richer, has a bigger home, has a bigger name… always. But, I have many things that make me really happy. I love my home and my business. You can’t do much better than that.

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Birmingham Life | June 2020

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE RETAIL BUSINESS?

the Birmingham Shopping District. Even if you aren’t from

I’ve always loved fashion ever since I was young and

here, the first thing a person mentions is to make sure you

would always dress trendy. My now good friend Vera took

go shopping in Downtown Birmingham. I think people in

a chance on me right out of high school when I applied

Birmingham really know about the latest trends, which

to work at this small boutique chain called Glik’s. She

makes for good customers.

was the manager at one of the locations. I guess she saw something in me because I had no retail experience. But,

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED

I remember her telling me she liked my personality and

AS A BUSINESS OWNER?

thought I would work well with the customers. My grandpa

To make sure I provide great customer service the min-

also heavily inspired my fashion and was a small business

ute customers walk in and help them find their individual

owner, so I guess it’s in my blood to own a shop.

needs and style. Also, to go with my gut and unique style sense and not with what is popular or what would make

WHY BIRMINGHAM?

me the most money.

Birmingham is the best place to go shopping in metro Detroit. People come from miles around to go shopping in

“Birmingham is the best place to go shopping in me tro De troi t .

Pe o p l e c o m e f r o m miles around to go shopping in the Birmingham S h o p p i n g D i s t r i c t .”

erik miller UNTIED ON WOODWARD AGE: 29 BIRMINGHAM CityLifestyle.com/BirminghamMI 33