The Hustle is Real

Most people I know have dreamed of opening their own business at some point in their life. The thought of being your own boss and having the final say in things is exciting to think about. While it’s easy for us to picture the potential success and sense of self fulfillment that owning your own business can provide, we often overlook the struggles and hard work that inevitably comes along with it.

When it was announced that our first Challenge Detroit project would be a collaborative effort with the City of Detroit to help develop a small business directory, I was extremely excited. Owning a small business myself (I launched my company 3andathird in 2011), I could relate on some level to the hard work these owners put into their businesses and the desire to see it flourish.

Along with my group I was tasked with helping to tell the stories of business owners in Detroit’s District 7: a district I’ve lived in all my life. This was particularly fulfilling for me as this is one of the often overlooked areas of Detroit. The once stable middle class neighborhoods of the area have fallen on hard times, however many of the same businesses that thrived decades ago remain today. Through hard work and perseverance, neighborhood staples such as Gracie See Pizzeria, Chene Modern Bakery, Ever-Joy Rent All, and Starters Bar and Grill remain open to serve the current generation of residents in the area.

At the conclusion of our project the fate of what would happen moving forward with the directory was in the hands of the City of Detroit. While we had high hopes, we did not know what would happen or when we could expect to see something tangible. I’m happy to say that the city surpassed all our expectations and have already released in time for the holidays an online and print version of the directory.

Half the battle for many of the small businesses in Detroit is simply getting the general public to recognize that they exist. Unfortunately the budget needed to run a powerful advertising campaign simply isn’t possible for many of the owners. The hope is that this directory will help to get the word and tell the stories of these businesses in the hopes that they will be around for future generations to enjoy and patron as well.

Click here to access the online small business directory

Starter’s Bar & Grill

18426 Plymouth Rd, Detroit, MI 48228

startersdetroit.com