Upon entering Alterations Unlimited one can’t help but notice the intensity of focus with which Cheryl Mayday tackles her job. Painstakingly sewing a pair of jeans on her “day off,” Mayday demonstrates the hard work it took to get to where she is today: a successful business owner in the growing city of Brighton. Dressmaking, custom tailoring and clothing repair are what Alterations Unlimited, located at 411 Millpond Dr. in downtown Brighton, specialize in. The shop handles leather repairs as well. Mayday said she is happy to come to work every day. “I love my job—I never thought I’d be here…
A recent blustery morning brought car after car through the two drive-through windows at The Hot Spot Coffee Company in Brighton, where Nichole Fisher and Samantha Torre kept the coffee and conversation flowing while scantily-clad in lingerie. There were plenty of big smiles pulling away. The Hot Spot, on 4608 South Old US 23 near Spencer Road, offers a wide variety of gourmet coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, frappes and breakfast items. Frappe Cha Chas, which come in a variety of flavors, are the most popular with customers, starting at $3.25 for a small to $3.75 for a large. The Hot Spot also …
This spring marks the 40th anniversary of Leppek Landscape. Run by the father and son team of Frank and Kory Leppek, the full service landscaping company continues to be at the forefront of the industry, backed by years of experience, knowledgeable staff and talented Michigan State University horticulturists and landscape design graduates. Leppek Landscape, located at 7341 Grand River Ave., specializes in creating, installing and maintaining beautiful and functional landscape designs for both residential and commercial properties. Seasonal property maintenance is also offered, as well as a …
Ashley Watterson, owner of Tocca Massage Therapy, has a passion for helping people to feel and get better, and she does this through her skills as a certified therapeutic massage therapist and her ability to focus on clients’ physical and emotional needs. “My philosophy of practicing massage is client-centered and whole-person focused,” she said. "I work to show my clients warmth, compassion, sincerity and attentive listening, with the result being that I am able to maximize the benefits of massage they receive." Watterson earned her bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University, and was…
One Saturday each month, the sound of tribal drumming pulses out of the Yoga Center For Healthy Living, providing a rhythmic backdrop to the flow of morning Vinyasa class. Russ White, of White Lake, provides the percussive sounds that bring a quiet energy to the session. The Yoga Center, located at 4437 Old US 23 in Brighton, is a warm, peaceful environment where the art of yoga is taught by experienced instructors. The goal of the center is to “facilitate healing at every level – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for each individual who walks through its doors.” Hatha, …
Black, sleek and timeless describe the transformed vehicles that come out of the design studio and warehouse where Mobsteel handles its custom car business. Mobsteel, which is located at 702 Advance St. in Brighton, specializes in taking original production cars, from vintage Lincolns to Ford F-Series trucks, and transforming them into spectacular showcase vehicles that capture the imagination and grab attention. The design team starts from the frame up, sanding, repainting and adding special components like spoilers, ground effects and rims to turn an ordinary car into a lean, mean …
Walk through the door of The Artisan’s Bench and be inspired by the broad selection of unique and visually arresting handcrafted items that are displayed all around. Originally Heirloom Oriental Rugs, the store has been transitioning into The Artisan's Bench for the last six months. The signs still reflect the old store name, but should be changed by the end of March, according to Colin Miller, co-owner of the shop. Located downtown at 307 W. Main St., The Artisan's Bench offers interior design services along with oil paintings, artwork by local artisans and original handmade Oriental rugs. …
This May, the staff of the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce will be busy packing up offices in preparation for a move to a roomier building that once housed Mellus Hospital at 218 E. Grand River Ave., in downtown Brighton. According to the chamber's CEO Pam McConeghy, the chamber has outgrown its present location at 131 Hyne St., where it has resided since the 1980s. “During the past few years we have been searching for a building that could house a conference center, as well as more office space for our growing staff,” McConeghy said. “The move means that the chamber will have more …
At 11:30 a.m. every Monday, the conference table at the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce fills with local businesspeople. The members who gather there aren't attending a formal meeting, though. Instead, they're toting lunches from Panera, Jimmy John's and other local eateries with the intention to "Never Eat Alone." The lunches, based on the Keith Ferrazzi book of the same name, have been staged weekly since October of 2010, and require a chamber membership to participate. Ferrazzi’s book (Crown Press, Feb. 2005, 320 pages, $26) is all about making connections “one relationship at a …
Kathleen's Cookies Kathleen McKay, owner of Kathleen’s Cookies, has a talent for creating delectable desserts, and an inviting space where people can enjoy them. Her motto is "Just a bite ... just because." Walk through the door of her new shop, which opened in December in the Kroger center on Grand River Ave., and you'll find warm tables and bookshelves full of wine glasses and Casafina dishware, as well as cards, candles and handmade jewelry for sale. Proceed to the counter and be drawn into the display of made-from-scratch cookies, brownies and sweets. Cookie varieties include white …
Good business sense, loyal customers and supportive family have helped Bob Corcoran build and maintain Corky’s Car Clinic over the years despite the ups and downs of Michigan’s economy. This February marks 31 years of business serving the Brighton area with its full service automotive repair shop. Corcoran’s early career involved working as an auto mechanic . "I have been working on vehicles all of my life, from independent repair facilities to automotive car dealers," he said. The late '70's found Corcoran working in a commission-only position for an automotive dealership during tough …
Surrounded by colorful varsity jackets, fabrics, sewing machines and her computer, Stephanie Konkel of Kensington Valley Varsity is getting ready to pack it all up this spring. But the successful entrepreneur isn't closing shop, she's expanding to a new space that's twice the size. As other local businesses struggle through a sluggish economy, business is booming for Kensington Valley Varsity. Konkel credits its growth, in part, to her Give Back to Students program. While selling her first varsity jacket line to local school districts, Konkel came up with the idea of giving schools a …
Looking to start over with a little self-renewal in the New Year? The Brighton area offers many options for getting in shape, from Curves, Lady of Livingston, Sticks Athletic Center and Powerhouse to Yoga Center for Healthy Living, Spirit Rising Studio and Fit Body Fit Mind. My Stronger Self, located at 1361 Old US 23 in Brighton, is a good fit for those who want personal attention without losing the social support of working out in a group. “A stronger mind starts with a stronger body” is the studio's motto. Owner Lori Murphy, a Brighton resident for 18 years, enjoys helping people to …
There's a sandbox in the lobby, and farther back, there's a tiki bar with palm trees painted on the walls. The co-founders? Their titles are "First Lady" and "Orator." Though you'll find this scene in an otherwise-typical business park office, this isn't your typical business — which makes perfect sense to the owners of InSights Group at 10355 Citation Dr., Suite 200, in Brighton. Born through the efforts of Allan Curtis and Sandi Maki in January 2008, InSights began as a business mentorship organization — helping small businesses and entrepreneurs help one another through peer-to-peer …
