Two Southwest Michigan Latinx businesses feature Mexican and Costa Rican products, sharing elements of Hispanic culture with their communities, thanks in part to nonprofit lender Northern Initiatives.
Monarca’s Ice Cream and Mexican Food in Schoolcraft provides homemade, authentic cuisine that draws food lovers from around the region. Check out the savory, sweet, and spicy treats of Monarca's (monarch in Spanish).
Scooters Malt Shoppe and Traveling Treats in Scotts has small-town charm and great food to attract visitors from all over!
RJ's Printing has been a beloved local business for nearly 30 years. In January, Kalamazoo's Sean Hollins bought the shop from Ralph Jones, keeping the legacy of the only known Black-owned printing business in Southwest Michigan growing as a collaborative "print partner."
How did the truffle respond to the popcorn's proposal? Oil marry you! Entrepreneur Kari Stolpestead officiated the marriage of popcorn and truffle oil at Can-Do Kalamazoo — and it was love at first bite.
A Gull Lake staple, Chicken House delights with superb food and stunning views while simultaneously enriching the community. Enjoy the first scoop on Kalamazoo County ice cream shops in our new series, Ice Cream Summer.
It's Pride Month, and in downtown Kalamazoo, flags are flying and crosswalks are rainbowed. Southwest Michigan Second Wave Writer Casey Grooten speaks to two LGBTQ+ allied business owners — one new and one that's been around for a decade — about their Kalamazoo Pride and concerns they share about a changing climate for LGBTQ+ folks.
A Battle Creek candlemaker got her start making gifts for far-flung relatives during the pandemic lockdown. Now she's launched Cereal City Candle Company and one of her most popular candles honors a certain locally-made fruity breakfast cereal.
Zaccari Frailey's love for beef jerky blossomed during the pandemic when he was a high school junior with an EBT card at his disposal. When funds dried up, Frailey decided to dry his own beef. Not long after, Jerk Your Beef Jerky, Frailey's successful, new business, was born.
The Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition has launched an $11 million fundraising campaign to preserve and renovate the 167-year-old First Baptist Church, which it now owns. Started five years ago, KNAC's mission is to create an inclusive, collaborative, affordable space for artists, nonprofits, and start-ups. "I believe a shared story of Kalamazoo is evolving," says KNAC Board Director Dann Sytsma, "and a shared space like KNAC can be an agent for that positive change."
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