Fruition Açai & Coffee Café, located at 856 N. Old Woodward Avenue in Birmingham, has closed. The health-focused café, owned by Lindsey Sayles, specialized in açaí bowls, smoothies, and coffee. Fruition Açai & Coffee continues to operate additional Michigan locations in Ada, Grandville, Grand Rapids, and Wyoming. Business Matters for the Birmingham - Bloomfield area are reported by Gigi Nichols. Send items for consideration to GigiNichols@downtownpublications.com. Items shoul

Max Surnow, founder and CEO of Cooper Street Snacks, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur of the Year program recognizes leaders who drive innovation, economic growth and long-term business impact. An independent panel selected Surnow among 34 finalists representing 31 companies, evaluating candidates on entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company gro

An iconic bridal boutique in Birmingham is celebrating a milestone. Roma Sposa Bridal Atelier, located at 708 N. Old Woodward Avenue, was founded three decades ago by Anna Castaldi. Inspired by her upbringing in Rome, Castaldi brought a distinctive European sensibility and refined fashion expertise to the metro Detroit area. She quickly became known for her passion and her unique ability to reveal each bride’s inner radiance and personality through the perfect gown. Roma Spos

Bloomfield Hills High School students and award-winning fencing champions Lucas Senic and Luao Yang began their journey as young boys at the Renaissance Fencing Club. “I started at (Renaissance Fencing Club) when I was eight-years-old,” said Yang. “I thought (fencing) was interesting. It was like a puzzle or a game to see who would make the next right decision.” Senic, a 15-year-old sophomore at Bloomfield Hills, was a sports enthusiast from an early age. “I was six-years-

In early 2025, after nearly 30 years in the auction house business, Birmingham native Bonnie Brennan became the CEO of Christie’s, a worldwide leader in the global art and luxury business including auctions, art appraisal and international real estate. Growing up in Michigan, Brennan attended Academy of the Sacred Heart for 12 years and currently serves on the school’s board of trustees. Brennan shared that from a young age she was interested in art and still enjoys paintin

Her former career as a premier climate scientist enabled Dr. Petra Huck to travel and explore all around the world. But it is her current role as the inaugural Jennifer Caldwell and John Fisher Cranbrook Climate Science Fellow that keeps her where she wants to be and doing what she enjoys. While earning her PhD in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, as well as an MS/BS in Meteorology and Climate Research from the University of Karlsruhe i

What began in 2023 as a vision for our senior community has finally found its footing. When the YMCA decided to sell their Birmingham branch at 400 East Lincoln, the City of Birmingham committed $1.5 million toward the purchase. Next contributed an additional $500,000, with both entities providing additional funding for professional services. After thoroughly exploring an expanded partnership with the YMCA that ultimately proved too large and too costly to bring to voters, in

We may well be in the minority when it comes to the news that the city of Birmingham has decided to ante up $5.2 million to purchase The Community House building on Bates Street in downtown Birmingham. But then again, we know we are not alone in our concerns about this purchase, based on phone calls and conversations we have had with members of the community who recently reached out to us. On the one hand, we wish we could be celebrating like some of the small but vocal grou

As an elected official it is often your job to make unpopular decisions. Our long held position is if you don't like what a politician does, go and vote in the next election and choose someone else. We are not fans of recalls – where an election is held before a politician's term is up. We have always maintained differences are settled at the ballot box, and recalls must strictly be for crimes, malfeasance or misfeasance in office. Recalls are difficult to enact and are cost

The Birmingham City Commission on Monday, May 18, approved the formation of nonprofit foundation to take over running The Community House building now that The Community House Association has accepted an offer of $5.2 million from the city to purchase the building, and the following evening the commission formally voted to make the purchase. The formal vote on the purchase also includes a provision instructing the city manger “to pursue and implement the necessary steps to