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By Jennifer Goeddeke

EDWARD STENCEL IS THE LIVELY, EXTROVERTED FOUNDER OF THE POPULAR RIVER ROUGE BREWING COMPANY, situated in Royal Oak and opened in May 2015. In 2019, Stencel was awarded a prestigious $100,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) to open a new brewery. Overall, the MDARD has awarded $1.8 million in grants to 20 projects, with the goal of encouraging private investment in Michigan. And now, before the new year, Stencel is set to open the highly-anticipated Unexpected Craft Brewing Company at 14401 W. 11 Mile Road, in Oak Park.

NATURALLY, STENCEL HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK ensuring the new brewery/tasting room will be ready for its launch!

Stencel has an interesting educational/career background. He attended the U of M in Dearborn, attaining a BA in economics. His initial career was within the automotive industry. Subsequently, Stencel studied to earn a masters in TV and film production and became involved with show/movie production in Hollywood for several years, “from Taco Bell to Star Trek…even Tim Burton movies!” Stencel’s work involved extensive worldwide travel; Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, to name a few.

From early on in his adult life, Stencel describes having a keen interest in beer and brewing. As a young man, he recalls forming a sizeable beer can collection. Throughout his time in the movie industry, Stencel describes, “frequenting quite a few different breweries,” with a particular fondness for darker beers. Back in his home-brewing days, he formulated a Guinness-inspired recipe named: Stencel Stout which became a huge favorite with his friends.

One of Stencel’s favorite breweries was the Intergalactic Brewery in San Diego, owned by a young gentleman called Alex Van Horn. Stencel and Van Horn quickly became good friends to the point where they would often brew together over the weekends, and Van Horn effectively became his hands-on instructor in the art of brewing. Another favorite brew locale was the AleSmith, also in San Diego and owned by Peter Zien. Both Zien and Van Horn became important mentors.

Brewing came naturally to Stencel. From selling some of his own brews through Intergalactic and trying out his own different recipes, he came to realize, “Maybe this is something I can do full-time!”

In the timespan of 2007 to 2010, the movie company Stencel represented struggled financially, so he made the big decision to move back to Michigan. Our governor at that time had created lucrative incentives for the movie industry. But, as Stencel recalls, that all changed fairly quickly.

IT WAS TIME TO MAKE A FULL COMMITMENT to his passion for brewing. So Stencel found a space in Royal Oak and, with the help of some friends and family, it became the River Rouge Brewing Company. But, due to the limited space, Stencel was soon searching for another local space to expand. Finally, in July 2018, Stencel found the current great locale in Oak Park.

With the grand opening any time now, I asked how a night out at Unexpected Craft BC might look. Stencel explained there will be various drinks to choose from, in addition to signature beers, including: wine, cider, hard seltzer and at least 30 different taps. Light snacks will be sold, and he also plans to keep the location “food-truck friendly” for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Additionally, Stencel mentioned he would like to partner-up with local restaurants, in order to provide a greater choice in food items. A further goal is to host some musical entertainment outside, on certain nights. He is a firm believer in the way a brew pub can bring people from all over the world together, as he has already witnessed at his River Rouge BC.

We are looking forward to the opening of this great addition to the city of Oak Park!

The River Rouge Brewing Company is located at 406 E 4th St, Royal Oak.
www.riverrougebrew.com,
248.802.0555

The Unexpected Craft Brewing Company is located at
14401 W. 11 Mile Road, Oak Park and is
set to open before year-end

Edward@riverrougebrew.com

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By Colton Dale

MANY DRIVEN, DEDICATED ENTREPRENEURS WERE PLANNING TO OPEN STORES, RESTAURANTS AND other businesses just before COVID-19.

When the pandemic hit, we were all forced to stay home, effectively halting most commerce, big and small. This, in turn, stopped many prospective business owners from ever opening, putting their hopes and dreams on hold as well as slowing job creation. Other, somewhat luckier entrepreneurs were able to open their ventures just before the novel coronavirus reached American shores, not knowing what was to come.

ONE OF THOSE ENTREPRENEURS IS RANDY HERKOWITZ. In mid-Fall of 2019, before the term COVID-19 was on anyone’s radar, Randy opened up a cool and unique retail store called NerdOut Toys on Nine Mile Rd, near the City’s eastern border with Ferndale. By Christmastime, business was booming.

Randy’s toy shop originated as a hobby. Buying, selling, and collecting vintage and antique toys is a passion that began in his basement but eventually outgrew hobby status. That’s when he knew he needed to look for a brick-and-mortar location nearby that could service other collectors and hobbyists whom he’d built relationships with over the years. He settled on Oak Park because of the location and amenities, as well as his appreciation for the fact that the City has been investing in its commercial corridors. Herkowitz and other nearby business owners are primary beneficiaries of the recently completed Nine Mile Redesign project.

“I think it’s great. It’s centrally-located. It’s near Ferndale, Berkley, Southfield, Detroit. And it’s a very diverse area that’s growing,” Herkowitz said. “The whole transition to Oak Park was great. Everyone was great help. They let me know if there was anything I needed and helped me achieve the goals I wanted to achieve.”

MANY OF THE THINGS YOU FIND AT NERDOUT TOYS WILL BRING YOU FEELINGS of happiness, amusement, and especially nostalgia. From action figures to PEZ dispensers and even a few vinyl records, NerdOut has gained traction as being both a place to regain interest in old toys and hobbies, as well as a place to take a metaphorical walk down memory lane. According to NerdOut’s website, they nerd out on just about everything, including “witches, droids, star fighters, creatures, wizards, supervillains, robots, barbarians, aliens, cyborgs, warriors, monsters, superheroes, spaceships and all other things fantastical!”

On PEZ dispensers in particular, Herkowitz explains “Most of the ones I have are from the ‘90s to the early 2000s. The no-feet stuff from the ‘60s gets really expensive, really hard to get. If it comes in, it just flies off the shelf.” Like so many other items on his shelves, they range in age from several decades old to brand new. Kids and “kids” of any age will undoubtedly find something you like when you walk in.

If you have any familiarity with toy collecting, you probably have heard of Herkowitz. He has a reputation for being one of the most knowledgeable collectors around. He’s hosted several local toy shows and conventions in years past, including one at Go Comedy! Improv Theater in Ferndale.

As with so many others, the pandemic hit Randy and his store hard. Still, he has remained flexible and adaptable in order to weather this storm the best he can. Nevertheless, he and all of Oak Park’s small business owners rely on community members to patronize them in order to stay afloat and continue serving our city and region.

“You gotta shop local, there’s a lot of good stores here and the growth is incredible,” said Herkowitz in closing.

Shop local, support Oak Park’s small businesses, and help grow your local economy! Visit NerdOut Toys at 8106 W Nine Mile Rd, Oak Park, MI 48237. Learn more at www.nerdouttoys.com.

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By Mary Meldrum

ZEANA ATTISHA IS MARRIED TO SAAD ATTISHA, AND THEY OWN THE OAK PARK STAPLE, SAHARA RESTAURANT.

Her husband started the operation in 1980 in Ferndale at 9 Mile and Woodward. He was there for about three or four years before moving to 9 Mile and Coolidge in Oak Park, then moving again in 2010 to 10 Mile. Sahara has been in Oak Park for 36 years and their current location for the last ten years. That is the 40-year history of a local family-owned restaurant.

SAHARA IS VERY WELL-KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY, especially among our Chaldean neighbors. Sahara’s menu features very traditional Mediterranean dishes. Some of the dishes are proprietary, like the stews and some soups.

Saad, his brother and his mom have all worked in the restaurant, and Zeana works there as well.

With a business finance degree, she handles bookkeeping and paperwork and also supervises the staff. After a fire in 2010, she took more of a hands-on role at the restaurant.

She also helped with a campaign to bring liquor licenses to Oak Park, working to get the matter on the ballot. Thanks to her efforts, Sahara now serves beer, wine and liquor, and now anyone can now apply for a liquor license.

This has opened up opportunities for Oak Park; now the city can attract hotels and other restaurants and venues.

ZEANA SAYS THAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM RIGHT NOW FOR SAHARA IS THE LACK OF EMPLOYEES.

Their carryout business is still strong. Sahara has restaurants in Oak Park, and one in Sterling Heights for 16 years, and now they are building one in Detroit at the Little Caesars world headquarters building. They used to have a facility in Farmington on 13 and Orchard Lake until 2015.

“Sahara is run off of our special recipes. We have a Sahara Market in Warren, and we go down to Eastern Market for some of our fresh foods.”

THE PANDEMIC HAS PUT A NEW STRAIN ON SAHARA. They have been forced to quickly transform their business. There is no more food-sharing.

Right now, the restaurant can only seat a maximum of ten people at a table.

“A lot of our food was served on trays, but not during COVID-19. Our restaurant took an 80 percent hit at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. A lot of servers have not come back. We have no more than 50 percent capacity right now.”

“I don’t think things will get back to normal until maybe next year.”

Zeana expressed some problems with acquiring coins from her bank, purchasing certain liquors, and hiring new staff. “We have made multiple attempts at ordering certain liquors, and there is a very limited amount of some, like expensive tequila. I am not sure why, but it is a problem.”

Now, they generously donate meals to hospitals, doctors offices, and other healthcare workers!

If you are interested in working at a Sahara restaurant, reach out to them for an interview.

24770 Coolidge Hwy, Oak Park | 248-399-7744

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OAK PARK IS ALWAYS EAGER TO CELEBRATE ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE, and you’ll find some of that excellence on display at the City Hall now through October.

It is the work of Markham, a Detroit-based artist who loves and excels in everything from pop art to graffiti, but, that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. Markham’s work is an embodiment of the independent artistic spirit spanning from music to his extensive exhibition history. However, the latter is merely one aspect of what Markham reveals to us. Whether doing freelance work or making art in his free time to express his relentless creative energy, Markham puts his own unique stamp on everything he does.

His works currently featured in the City Hall exhibit include surreal and fantasy landscapes, as well as a pop-art Beatles montage (the last available in a sold-out series.) The selection of Markham’s work is a step away from what he most commonly shows his viewers. “I paint the visions in my head that intuitively express dark overtones of monsters and uncertainty through a mostly surrealist view,” Markham states. Mostly, his intention is to make us step back and look at how we’ve been dismissive of humanities undesirable qualities. Sometimes he holds the mirror up in a repulsive way, but that is what a lot of Markham’s work does, by reflecting some of the things many of us shy away from.

HOWEVER, HIS INTENTION IN PORTRAYING DISQUIETING THEMES IS NOT TO UPSET THE VIEWER. Part of his vision as an artist is to present topics that are often ignored or shunned by the popular media. By exploring and artistically depicting his feelings on abuse and the media’s exploitation of certain groups of people, for example, he hopes to give voice to the victims whose suffering is often overlooked. This represents the true spirit of using art as a healing force, for the creator, and hopefully for the viewer as well.

It is this fluidity in creative expression that makes Markham’s work what it is. He does not think, “This is a graphic design job so I must follow these rules,” or, “This is a painting so I must do things this certain way.” This disregard for convention is what makes his work unique, as following norms is a surefire way to stay in a safe zone and ensure that artistic output will never approach what it could be if the creative spirit were truly allowed to be free.

His exhibits in Detroit, New York, Venice, and L.A., along with his published works in multiple national publications including The Finger Mag, Propulsion Magazine, Studio Visit Magazine, and Ink and Voices have met with good acceptance.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT MARKHAM FOR YOUR artistic business needs, murals, and more, he can be reached at 586-246-4028 or at markhamartist@outlook.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Instagram at MarkhamArtist, YouTube at Markham|Artist, and markhamartist.com, where his work is also available for purchase.

 

 

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By Rose Carver

J&D AUTO IS CELEBRATING THEIR 31ST YEAR OF OPERATION AS ONE of the best-kept secret gems of Oak Park. “I’m a believer,” said customer-service representative Penny White.

“I LOVE KNOWING THAT I’M WORKING IN AN HONEST ENVIRONMENT and not trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.”

White, at the front desk, has been in the area for 20 years after moving here from Florida. When her car needed maintenance, she felt uneasy about where she should take it. Her neighbors enthusiastically recommended J&D Auto, and that suggestion changed the course of her career.

Don Hagle, the owner of J&D, has been working on cars since his high school days. Hagle is heavily involved in the Ferndale and Oak Park community as a scout leader, and an active supporter of the Ferndale School District.

“Don is a real community-minded person and he loves what he does,” Penny said.

“He is honest to a fault and just wants everyone to be safe.”

White has always worked in customer service but she wears many hats at J&D, including bookkeeper. Penny firmly believes that without the customer you have nothing.

J&D HAS REMAINED BUSY THROUGHOUT MANY UPS-AND-DOWNS, and the Covid-19 pandemic is no exception. White says that the loyalty of their customers persists.

“We have gone through generations of loyal customers and it is truly amazing,” White said.

Whether it’s a tune-up, an oil change, inspections and more, J&D Auto performs all maintenance, diagnostic, and electrical issues that you will run into with any vehicle. J&D Auto is open Monday through Friday, and they are located at 13051 Capital, Oak Park. Visit their website: JDAutoService.com.

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By Erik Tungate, City Manager

THE CITY OF OAK PARK IS ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES in Michigan. That definitive statement might surprise people but it’s true.

Over the span of 75 years since the city’s incorporation, Oak Park has upheld its reputation as an inclusive community with a familyfriendly culture. In more recent years, we’ve also enhanced our brand as “a great place to do business.” Since 2014, when Oak Park completed an aggressive n designed to promote private sector investment, our city has been on the move.

Oak Park is situated on the southern edge of Oakland County and the northern border of the City of Detroit. Until recent years, Oak Park was known as a “bedroom community” – where residents live, but work in other cities, mainly Detroit. During my eight-year tenure as City Manager, however, we’ve experienced historic growth in terms of licensing small businesses and corporations for operation within Oak Park’s city limits.

Three significant corporations – Fed Ex Ground Distribution Center, Bollinger Motors, and the Kroger Company – have joined our community within the past five years. In 2015, international courier service Fed Ex developed a 304,000 square-foot distribution center in Oak Park’s Armory Park, representing one of Oak Park’s largest commercial land deals on record. Fed Ex employs more than 245 people and operates 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week at the facility now located at Greenfield Rd. and W. 8 Mile Rd.

This year, Bollinger Motors, a manufacturer of electric, four-wheel drive trucks, relocated its headquarters to Oak Park’s 11 Mile corridor to accommodate the company’s expansion.

And Kroger recently completed construction and opened a full-service grocery store on Greenfield Rd. These three companies join a host of Oak Park veteran manufacturers and service businesses, which include Eaton Steel Bar, Hagopian, WeatherGard, RingSide Creative, Barton Malow Rigging, EJ Group, and Brilar.

IT’S A KNOWN FACT THAT OAK PARK RESIDENTS DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENT LOYALTY in patronizing local, small businesses, so our community is very attractive to small retailers as well. We’ve substantially increased our number of small businesses in recent years. New ventures include Oak Park Social, Classic Expressions, Unexpected Craft Brewing Co., Nerd Out Toys, Wing Snob, Mad Crab, Dog & Pony Show Brewing and The Oak Parker restaurant. We also celebrated the grand opening of nonprofit Forgotten Harvest’s new headquarters and campus on 8 Mile Rd. The new establishments expand our existing, small business community, which also includes our own Ernie’s Market, Peteet’s Famous Cheesecakes, Curv Bella Boutique, K&F International Market, Leyton’s, The Book Beat, Street Corner Music, and Eddie’s Gourmet.

Businesses have many reasons to choose to plant roots in Oak Park. The city’s strategic location is an attractive feature. Oak Park is bordered by three, major thruways: John C. Lodge Freeway (M-10) to the west, Walter P. Reuther Freeway (I-696) to the north, and 8 Mile Rd. (M-102) to the south. Most of the credit for our success, however, is shared by the City’s innovative Economic Development department and the collaborative efforts of all our administrative departments. We pride ourselves on our competitive recruitment approach and our ability to offer businesses of all sizes a streamlined licensing process.

IT’S SUCH AN HONOR TO SERVE AS CITY MANAGER OF ONE OF MICHIGAN’S MOST CUTTING-EDGE COMMUNITIES. I came into this position knowing there existed a solid foundation from which we could make measurable progress. And we have. Oak Park is on a solid trajectory toward continued growth. I fully anticipate significant community and economic development for years to come.

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By Ginger Goldmine

OUR DIGS 2020 FEATURED HOME IS THE ROCK HOUSE, located in Ferndale at 519 W. Maplehurst.

Tamela Ekstrom and Evan Derian have lived here since 2011. Evan is an artist, graphic designer, and comic book creator. He creates a comic book/graphic novel series called Miserable Americans.

Tamela owns HAVEN Real Estate + Design, helping people buy and sell homes in our community. The design element to her business helps homeowners stage their properties to sell for more money.

What is one word you would use to describe your vibe or style?

TAMELA EKSTROM: Juxtapose: I like to mix furniture styles and textures to create a soulful space, artfully combining the aesthetics of modern decor with vintage spin. Flashes of metal next to rough wood. I think it’s all about balancing the space so it’s appealing to the eye. I don’t like anything too cluttered. I want that modern look to have a cozy feel. Visitors often say our home is even better in person. I usually pick some colors for a season and then curate the art from ours and our friends’ work. We are both artists, and somehow our work looks very good together. Evan can tell which color combos I’m starting to eye, and I get lucky and end up with pieces that work with that. Our home is ever-evolving. I feel space needs to be ever-changing to transform its inhabitants.

What are some design strategies you would share?

The homes in our neighborhoods were built in the ‘20s and ‘30s, and tend to have smaller rooms. So raising and widening doorways creates a whole new and airy space. I’m attracted to black or darker walls and moody spaces to sleep. I try to place the darker colors in satellite rooms, like bedrooms that are contained.

In our main space, I painted every wall a similar neutral shade. This opens up the small rooms so they flow into each other and appear larger. We recently updated the paint in a few rooms to a very light, warm color called “Gray Owl” from Ferndale’s Benjamin Moore dealer, Paint Stop. Colors contained within art and pillows absolutely pop in this hue.

I also raise the curtain rods above the windows and buy 95” curtains. This really lifts your eye up and visually creates a larger space. When we are selling homes at HAVEN we offer free staging advice, and one thing that creates compelling photos are when contrasting pops of color are used. This anchors photos and creates visual interest. Pick a color palette, match a couple of pillows with a print or art piece and suddenly you have an exciting visual story.

What are some of your favorite local artists?

I love Detroit artists and vendors! We are so lucky to have so many artists in our neighborhoods. Some that come to mind while I’m looking around my house:
• My hubby, Evan Derian (IG:@evan_k_derian) of course. He’s incredibly talented at illustration. He has his own graphic novels, but he also paints a lot of rock stars’ portraits and offers affordable, limited edition pieces.
• Robert Mirek (IG:@robert_mirek) creates totem pieces out of many mediums. I find them mysterious and I’m always into his color combinations.
• Eastworks Detroit (IG: @EastworksDetroit) satisfies my love for industrial lighting.
• My friend Karen Larson (IG:@karen.larson.patterns) is a graphic designer and creates patterns for custom wallpaper.
• My friend Susu (@Susu.Detroit) creates many different items, she’s now in a phase of making incredible purses and art from dolls and rough and shiny crystals. I have a piece with leather, chain, and a shard of raw crystal that is functional as a tiny vessel but also art. It’s so pretty I have it hanging on the wall and I stare at it all the time.

Do you have any special or semi-secret spots you frequent that you’d like to share?

Ok, this is big, because I’m giving up my favorite stores to you guys.

• Nine Furniture and Design (IG:@ninefurnitureand design) hand-makes furniture and decor, and also sells vintage. So it’s pretty much one-stop shopping for me. I’m fascinated at how quickly Keith and Evan create these affordable, inspired pieces. I just received the curved whitewashed coffee table in the photo you see in this article. Another item hand-made by them is the large cross-hatch wood mirror you see in the living room photo.
• We have many pieces from Vogue Vintage (IG:@voguevintage). Their mid-century lighting, cabinets, tables, and chairs provide pieces to promote our modern aesthetic.
• Western Market (IG: @westernmkt) for ferns for our porch and Featherstone Garden (IG:@featherstone.garden) for healthy houseplants.
• Nadeau (IG:@nadeaudetroit) makes my heart beat real fast. When I moved here, I searched and searched for Asian style modern furniture, as I could find in San Francisco. After a few years, Nadeau opened up and I hope everyone shops there so they stay around forever. They have solid wood and metal furniture and home goods. I have lots of pieces from their industrial line.
• Leah’s Closet (IG:@leahsclosetroyaloak) is my friend’s vintage clothing store, however, she also carries curated home items. I am constantly changing my barware, and I usually get it from Leah. I also bought these incredible beaded tassels I use on the silver glass shard lamps you see in the photos here. Sometimes she has some really great textiles and mid-century artwork as well. She’s great about posting on her Instagram.
• And then, I should mention one more shop I love, my friends’ Tanda and Lauren own Free Phoenix (IG:@shopfreephoenix). They have pillows, trays, glasses, throws, and art. Owner Tanda’s design sense is very organic and earthy and her curated pieces add texture and warmth to spaces.

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ROUGE MAKEUP & NAIL STUDIO

ROUGE MAKEUP & NAIL STUDIO WAS STARTED IN 2010 by sisters Jeny Bulatovic and Cheryl Salinas-Tucker, who have always believed in the importance of using organic products rather than chemical-based. Bulatovic and Salinas-Tucker began working with a small, Michigan-based company, Eve Organics, to deliver high quality, natural products to their customers. “We want to offer our clients only the best ingredients – we call
it their ‘personal eco-system’,” Bulatovic explained.

The sisters loved Eve’s products so much that in 2019 they decided to purchase the company, moving the entire operation onsite. “We’re super-excited,” Bulatovic said. “We will be undergoing major renovations beginning next month, focusing on enhancing our makeup studio up front and offering makeup classes. It’s great to be able to bring this home to Ferndale.”

Integrating Eve Organics into the rest of services the business offers means customers who love the organic product line will be able to shop directly with Rouge. The sisters are also in the midst of making changes and improvements to further enhance its quality.

With the new business focus, Rouge is no longer offering massage or Reiki services. However, clients will still be able to receive top-of-the-line facials and nail care. Microblading, brow-waxing, and lash extensions are also available.

For more information regarding Eve Organics and all of Rouge’s products and services, visit
rougemakeupandnails.com or call 248-439-6012.

HOUSE CAT GLASS

DONNA MASKILL STARTED WORKING ON GLASS IN THE LATE ‘90s while attending the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Afterwards, she became involved with many studios in the area, including Greenfield Village, and eventually, her passion led to the opening of her own shop.

“I loved working with glass and enjoyed teaching others so much that I decided to start my own studio in 2001,” Maskill said. Having lived in the Ferndale area since 1992, she knew it was the perfect spot for House Cat Glass. “With the help of two close friends – and many others – I was able to build all the equipment necessary to melt glass and produce handmade, one-of-a-kind art.”

Maskill recently joined the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce and offers many events at the shop throughout the year. House Cat Glass also includes a gift area with handmade pieces available for purchase.

“I offer classes for beginners and small groups,” she added. “Studio rental time is available for experienced glass blowers. Beginners are given one-on-one attention and are able to use the tools of the trade to learn to shape molten glass.”

For more information or to sign up for a class, visit the shop on Instagram @Housecatglass or call 248-548-3228.

FERNDALE SENIORS GROUP

“COME PLAY WITH US.” The motto of the Ferndale Senior Group says it all: Come play, learn, expand, and socialize with us.

We are a social group formed to enrich the quality of life for senior citizens in Ferndale and neighboring communities. We do this through programs, trips, and activities. We offer fun trips within the Tri-County area, including museums, fashionable restaurants, festivals, and whatever else takes our fancy.

Our meetings are packed with speakers familiar with community information, fun facts, ways to ease our lives, not to mention simply socialize and relax. We are famous for our potlucks. We meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 11:00 a.m. at the Kulick Center. Attendance is free. So, come join us.

Jeannie Davis, 248- 541-5888

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By Sara E. Teller
Photos by Bernie Laframboise

FERNDALE IS A HUB FOR MANY OF THE AREA’S LEADING PROFESSIONAL BUSINESSES, from law firms and credit unions to printing services, custom event and marketing products, and everything in between. The area offers many cutting-edge, innovative solutions within walking distance, and this makes it a prime location for both start-ups and companies that have been in business for many years.

SMASHBOX DESIGNS

CLIENT-FOCUSED SMASHBOX DESIGNS, BASED IN PLEASANT RIDGE and wellknown in the Ferndale area for their talented team and personalized customer service, helps companies powerfully reach their target audiences. Creative and innovative, Smashbox employees specialize in logo design, copywriting and branding, large-format and standard printing, business cards, product photography and many other marketing mediums. For more information, visit smashbox-designs.com or call 248-2751877.

ARTECH PRINTING/ROCKET PRINTING

ARTECH PRINTING, INC., based in nearby Madison Heights, is a mid-sized, fullservice printer also offering a wide array of digital printing services. artechprinting.com. 248-545-0088. And ROCKET PRINTING, in Royal Oak, provides many business-to-business services under one roof. They can produce just about any business form imaginable, while also providing collateral sales and marketing services. www.rocketonestop.com, 248-336-3636.

EVENT SOURCE

FOR THOSE LOOKING TO STAGE AN IMPORTANT, MEMORABLE EVENT, EVENT SOURCE provides the very best selection of linen, furniture, and accessory rentals. Family-owned since 1979 and serving not only the Detroit area but also Cleveland, Columbus and Pittsburg, the company has an always in-stock product line that will suit any taste or style. The team can provide quantities to customize any size event – from backyard picnic to a convention from an intimate wedding to a gala. For more information, visit eventsource.net or call 313-309-9000.

PLANFREEDOM GROUP

MAINTAINING UNIQUE PARTNERSHIPS WITH PROGRESSIVE service- and product-based companies, PLANFREEDOM GROUP acts as an independent marketer providing guidance and value to both residential and small-business clients. The company utilizes online, local, and progressive marketing techniques coupled with distinctive sales strategies to distribute products and services for channel partners through direct sales organizations. Visit planfreedomgroup.com or call 248-797-1169 or 248-701-9393.

CREDIT UNION ONE

CREDIT UNION ONE, HEADQUARTERED IN FERNDALE, HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1938. With 25 branch offices, 130,000 members, and 1.5 billion in assets, anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in the state of Michigan can be a member. The credit union offers full-service financial solutions, including checking and saving accounts, security deposits, loans, mortgages, credit cards, and commercial lending and depositing. It also helps members with financial planning and insurance programs.

John Kozich has been at Credit Union ONE for 46 years. “I started in a high school co-op program, went to college at Lawrence Tech, working part-time, then eventually transitioned to full-time after graduation.” He loves the Ferndale area, saying, “I grew up in Ferndale, so I have roots here that go way back. It’s a very diverse, proactive community. Everyone is understanding, open, and dedicated, willing to take risks and step out of the box.”

He believes in Credit Union ONE’s commitment to providing exceptional value to its members by delivering outstanding products and services anytime, anywhere. “We’re here to serve our members. Credit Union ONE has been around for 82 years, providing good service, and rooted right here in Ferndale.”

For more information on becoming a member, visit cuone.org or call 800-451-4292.

VIBE CREDIT UNION

VIBE CREDIT UNION HAS BEEN A MICHIGAN-BASED, NOT-FOR-PROFIT CREDIT UNION SINCE 1936, started by a handful of employees from the telephone industry. The Ferndale eCenter is located at 214 W. Nine Mile Rd, a location selected for “its downtown proximity, active community involvement, and pedestrian-friendly access,” according to Community Engagement Specialist, Ngoc Do, who added, “We love the diversity and positive energy that the Ferndale community exudes.”

Vibe’s checking account includes a mobile banking app, online banking with bill pay and mobile deposit, and monthly accumulated interest. Members also enjoy unlimited free transactions at vibe ATMs and no low-balance fee when deposit and/or loan accounts combined have balances of only $500 or more.

“We also offer low auto loan rates with flexible terms and fast funding, easy online application, ability to eSign, and the convenience of picking your payment date,” Do explained.

Finding a branch to bank with is simple, too. “We have 16 branches in Metro Detroit, many with Saturday lobby hours,” Do said. “We welcome anyone who lives, works, or worships in Michigan’s lower peninsula.”

Vibe is set to sponsor many events in Ferndale this year, including the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce/Kiwanis Unicorn Derby Fundraiser, Ferndale Community Foundation Pride Festival, the Fall Festival and the Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) Fido Does Ferndale in October and the DDA Ice Festival in December.

For more information, visit vibecreditunion.com or call 248-735-9500/248 829 1894.

FOLEY & MANSFIELD

FOLEY & MANSFIELD IS A LAW FIRM RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE U.S. for providing a wide range of legal solutions for individuals and local businesses, as well as regional and national companies. Gary Sharp, William Osantowski, and J. Mark Mooney opened the Michigan office in 1995 in Bingham Farms.

A decade later, in December 2006, renovations began on a Ferndale-based historic building originally constructed in 1915. The structure previously served as the original Ferndale School and Central School through the 1920s, and from November 1930 through April 1953 it was the home of the Ferndale Public Library.

“Foley & Mansfield extensively renovated the building, exposing beautiful brickwork, wood, and other original design, character and workmanship aspects of the building,” said Office Administrator, Dana Hagemann Burleigh. “The firm also expanded the building so the historic and modern aspects now stand side by side, reflecting the past and present.”

Ferndale was an ideal location for Foley & Mansfield, Hagemann Burleigh explained, saying, “We chose Ferndale in part because of the town’s walk-ability and conveniences.” She added, “We frequently collaborate with attorneys from our fifteen other offices, handling mass toxic torts, employment discrimination, family law, and just about everything in between. We have a network of connections and resources that enable us to obtain the services our clients need around the country.”

Foley & Mansfield is a proud supporter of Ferndale Public Schools and participates in many of Ferndale’s festivals and events. “People have been warm and welcoming since day one, and it is fun to take a break and walk around in a downtown area,” Hagemann Burleigh said. “The shop owners and employees are friendly and helpful, whether you need to host an event or find an outfit for the event.”

For top quality legal services, call 248-721-8172 or visit foleymansfield.com.

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By Sara E. Teller
Photos by Bernie Laframboise & Others

FERNDALE OFFERS A HIP-AND-HAPPENING COMMUNITY, with both starter and forever homes nestled conveniently near many of Metro-Detroit’s major highways. Homeowners choose Ferndale for its welcoming, tight-knit feel, diverse population and friendly residents, and wide array of available amenities.

This is why the area is also home to many skilled realtors, builders, contractors, property managers, and home improvement companies. It makes sense to follow the crowd and Ferndale is a natural fit.

WATERWORK PLUMBING

TAKE WATERWORK PLUMBING FOR EXAMPLE, ORIGINALLY STARTED by owner David Greylin back in 2006. Greylin launched the company with just one truck. Since then, WaterWork has grown to include a team of 14 people who serve the entire tri-county area, and owner Greylin says, “Business is booming!” For more information, call 248-542-8022 or visit waterworkplumbing.com.

CREGGER PLUMBING

CREGGER PLUMBING & SEWER ALSO OFFERS DRAIN AND SEWER CLEANING, and boiler services in addition to plumbing solutions. The company loves to give back to Ferndale, too, by sponsoring Habitat for Humanity, the Hydrocephalus Association, and the Ferndale Ice Festival. Visit creggerplumbing.com or call 248-560-7780.

EMERGENCY DRAIN & PLUMBING

FOR SAME-DAY EMERGENCY PLUMBING SERVICES, TRI-COUNTY RESIDENTS can contact Emergency Drain and Plumbing. Skilled workers stand ready to keep the show running. Call 248-506-7634 or submit a service request at emergencydrainandplumbing.com.

HAVEN REAL ESTATE + DESIGN

TAMELA EKSTROM STARTED HAVEN REAL ESTATE + DESIGN IN 2015. “I’d lived in a number of different cities across the U.S. and had been involved in a number of different aspects on the real estate business, including construction, property management, and of course real estate sales. I wanted to create a space where people working for HAVEN could tailor their lives how they wanted,” she explained.

One unique aspect of HAVEN is that agents work from their own homes, or from local co-working spaces. “I also encourage them to be their own unique individuals. Not everyone wants a flashy real estate agent in a suit! We empower our clients’ by educating them so they can make an educated, informed decision,” Ekstrom said.

HAVEN primarily serves the Ferndale community, as well as neighboring areas along the Woodward Corridor. Ekstrom explained, “The majority of our customers are people who are looking to buy or sell a home in or around Ferndale. Most of our customers want to buy or sell property along the Woodward Corridor from Detroit to Royal Oak, Berkley, Clawson, Detroit, Beverly Hills, and Bloomfield Hills, but we do reach as far as Grosse Pointe, Dearborn, Macomb, and Northville. Our clients are interested in investing their money wisely and utilizing technology to search for properties.”

In addition to traditional real estate assistance, HAVEN also offers design services. Ekstrom said, “HAVEN real estate + design helps both sellers and buyers with design services. If people sell their homes with us, we offer a free consultation and home walk-through to tell them what to do to maximize profits. For our buyers, we can give rough estimates on renovations and refer contractors.” The company can also assist with furniture selection and interior decorating. She added, “We’re experts at pricing homes, and giving recommendations based on the current real estate market. We’re experts at marketing properties to people looking to buy now.”

The “unique, artistic, edgy, progressive, and inclusive” atmosphere in Ferndale makes working there fun and exciting for Ekstrom and she has been involved in many one-of-a-kind projects, explaining, “I designed and decorated our Northwest Ferndale rock home and it was recently featured in the pilot episode of HGTV’s What You Get For The Money. HAVEN agent Stephanie Kort was the featured realtor in the segment, talking about Ferndale and all it has to offer.”

For more information, 248-464-3304 or visit livehaven.com.

JUDY PALMER, REMAX

REAL ESTATE LEGEND JUDY PALMER HAS LIVED IN FERNDALE FOR OVER 36 YEARS. She grew up in Oak Park and eventually relocated to Ferndale after college, explaining, “Living in Ferndale was a natural transition once I moved back home from EMU. I knew I wanted to get out on my own. Ferndale was a very affordable city for renting and I worked at a local restaurant.”

She originally started her real estate career at a small realty office on Woodward in Royal Oak, then RE/MAX in Royal Oak for 10 years and now at RE/MAX Showcase Homes since 1999 in Birmingham.

Judy’s business has grown leaps and bounds over the years. She said, “For over 35 years, I have cultivated a wonderful client base. My business is 90 percent repeat clients and referrals, which includes generations in families. I am currently working with a young woman to find her first home. I first met her when I found her parents their first home and she was about sixyears-old.”

With a background in interior design and staging as well as marketing, Judy helps sellers prepare their properties for showings plus virtual tours. She ensures that homes get the exposure they deserve. Her follow-up and personal attention to details makes for a smooth transaction with an easy closing.

Judy works closely with buyers to find the right space, manage inspections and appraisals, and facilitate the mortgage and title processes. She said, “My experience, education, certifications and negotiation techniques help my clients daily.”

Palmer also volunteers for many Ferndale events including Pig & Whiskey and DYI StreetFair for the Friends of Ferndale Library. She serves as a board member for Ferndale Community Foundation and Ferndale Board of Zoning Appeals.

“Ferndale is a great place to live, shop and have fun,” she said. “Our friendly neighborhoods, downtown area and amenities like the Library, community center, parks, and City services – plus the culture of music, theatre, comedy, wellness and diversity – make Ferndale the best place to be!”

For more information regarding all of the services Judy Palmer offers, call 833-577-3557 or visit judypalmer.com.

JIM SHAFFER & ASSOCIATES

JIM SHAFFER HAS BEEN A LICENSED REALTOR SINCE 2000 BUT BEGAN HIS FULL-TIME REAL ESTATE CAREER IN 2010. His close connection to the Ferndale community and our schools, businesses and residents helped the business quickly grew.

“Over the years, the team has grown to 42 fulltime members in order to serve our clients at the same high standard of ‘wow’ client experience,” Shaffer said. “We are part of Good Company Realty, a real estate brokerage in Royal Oak.”

Jim Shaffer and Associates serves homeowners along the Woodward Corridor, including those who have lived in the area for just a few years and many that have lived there for more than 40.

“We also help many buyers who wish to live in these communities, either buying their first homes or buying a larger home to suit their growing lives,” Shaffer explained. “Because we are a team of specialists, our clients enjoy the high level of service and communication that a team can provide. From the first call, we walk our clients through every step of the process with staging and updating advice, if needed, to pricing, and ultimately, masterful negotiation.”

THE COMPANY SPONSORS MANY OF THE EVENTS IN FERNDALE, including Pride, DIY, Pig & Whiskey, and others. “We often serve for local charities, work booths and volunteer our time within the community,” Shaffer said, adding, “When describing our city to potential relocation buyers, I always say we are a small town with a big community. I love the entrepreneurial spirit here – our businesses and residents choose to support one another, and this certainly fuels us here at Jim Shaffer and Associates.”

Shaffer enjoys the sense of belonging, contribution, and connection in Ferndale. He said, “We love Ferndale and we love what we do! Every day, we are honored to help buyers and sellers move through the emotional highs and lows of real estate. We are there when folks buy their first homes and when families are faced with the difficult task of selling their parents’ homes. It’s an honor and responsibility that we take seriously, and we will always put the client first.”

To work with Jim Shaffer, call 248-834-3030. more information, visit soldcalljim.com.

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