Four Restaurants and Bars Are Semi-Finalists in 2016 Hatch Detroit Contest

Over the years, the Hatch Detroit contest has helped launch and raise awareness for numerous restaurant and bar businesses in the city — Sister Pie and Batch Brewing Co. to name a few. More than 150 applications were submitted for this year’s contest, and the shortlist of contestants is once again unveiling a number of promising food business contenders in addition to retail businesses. On Thursday evening Hatch Detroit revealed its semifinalists questing for a $50,000 small business grant plus $200,000 in pro bono services. The following is a rundown of the top 10 (check out their longer bios here).

Restaurants and Bars

• Brut Detroit will be Grandmont Rosedale’s neighborhood wine bar, making wine approachable, affordable and fun for everyone through wine tastings, events and friendly service. You may have seen the startups wine pop-ups around town.
• Chugga’s Main Street Bakery is a women-owned, family operated bakery that is looking to open in Highland Park. They specialize in breads using simple all natural ingredients, that are healthy and nutritious.
• Coriander Kitchen and Farm is looking to expand their urban farm and catering business into a brick & mortar café, featuring casual, affordable, healthy food in a rustic, beautiful environment in Detroit. Chef Alison Heeres and her partner previously received small business funding through Motor City Match.
• ITADAKU (it-uh-da-ckoo) is a fine-casual sustainable sushi shop opening in Corktown. They make fine dining quality sushi at an affordable price, using sustainable seafood and organic produce. Check out our interview with Itadaku.

Retail With Bonus Food and Beverage

• Meta Physica Massage will open a Wellness Center offering therapeutic bodywork, full spectrum infrared saunas, a raw juice bar, an herbal apothecary and health inspired retail, meditation classes and community workshops.

Non-Food and Beverage

• Ash & Anvil is the first company to design clothes specifically for younger, shorter guys. After launching a successful eCommerce store, they’re expanding to a brick & mortar location.
• Bird Bee is a lifestyle clothing boutique offering a mix of modern bohemian, vintage inspired and contemporary clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories.
• Corbé is a ceramic design and manufacturing studio located in the North End of Detroit looking to open up retail space. They handcraft porcelain wares that are simple and useful, built for the modern home and table.
• Detroit Dart Club hosts Nerf battles, offering a fun way to engage kids and adults in exercise. They’re looking to expand to a second, larger location in Southwest Detroit.
• The Natural Market’s vision is to open a boutique specializing in Handmade Bath, Body & Home Products and customized fragrances.

The beauty of Hatch Detroit is that you can vote and as of today the polls are now open. Help whittle down the contestants by casting to votes in the first round ending August 18 at midnight. Four finalists will be unveiled on August 19. The winner is selected with the combination of a general election vote (cast one vote) and by a panel of local judges who listen to the company business pitches and grill them with questions.

Even if entrants don’t win big in Hatch Detroit, the businesses often make their way to brick-and-mortar anyway. While Live Cycle Delight won the grand prize in last year’s final four pitch, fellow finalists Norma G’s and The Royce Detroit are on slated to open bars and restaurants in the city very soon.

• Hatch Detroit Website [Official]
• All Coverage of Hatch Detroit [ED]