Day-to-day interactions with happy customers keeps Pastrami Joe’s owner going
In 2022, Andrew Scibbe’ purchased Pastrami Joe’s Deli in Marshall. Two years later, he reopened a second location in downtown Battle Creek.
SWMI Journalism Collaborative
New complex at Burdick and Vine will mark the intersection of needed housing and healthy living
Jamauri Bogan is partnering with Bronson Healthcare to build an 85-unit, mixed-use residential complex that helps address the critical shortage of housing in Kalamazoo County.
Lifelong dream realized with opening of catering and takeout business in Battle Creek
Mitts 2 Pits Catering is the latest tenant in a building at 78 Calhoun Street that has incubated dreams for several restaurateurs in Battle Creek. Owned by the husband-and-wife team of Benjamin and Denise Young, the catering and take-out business opened its first brick-and-mortar location in April. Here's their story.
La Loma Supermercado brings authentic flavors — and cultural pride — to Battle Creek
La Loma Supermercado, a new $3 million Mexican and Latin American grocery and taqueria in Battle Creek, is bringing authentic flavors, cultural connection, and community vibrancy to the region.
La Loma Supermercado trae sabores auténticos — y orgullo cultural — a Battle Creek
La Loma Supermercado, un nuevo supermercado y taquería de $3 millones en Battle Creek, está trayendo sabores auténticos, conexión cultural y mayor vitalidad comunitaria a la región.
A different kind of fight club: ChampsDen is a place to spar and a safe haven for young people
ChampsDen Boxing Club in the basement of a home in the Edison neighborhood was created in 2019 by Kalamazoo native Jadschi Green who has boxing in his blood.
Charting the Road to Success: A program from El Concilio Kalamazoo boosts Latinx entrepreneurship
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce $2.5 million. That money went to four organizations inlcuding El Concilio in Kalamazoo. It is now providing access to economic development resources in Spanish for businesses like Tacos El Jefe.
Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition Executive Director learned early to leave only footprints
"I try to spend time outside every day, and every time I get out in nature, I just fall in love with this world that we live in," says Jenny Doezema is the new executive director of the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition.
Sweet Success: Papa’s Brittle driven by owner’s desire to invest in her community
In the summer of 2021, the Rev. Doreen Gardner began making her large batches of brittle in the commercial kitchen space at the small business incubator Can-Do Kalamazoo. Papa’s Brittle went on to win the national NAACP’s Black Entrepreneur Award, which came with a $25,000 award and mentorship from an investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank. Now they operate from a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen on Stadium Drive.
