Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.

Amanda Coder

My husband and I bought Buffalo House in May 2020, during the height of COVID-19. The Village of Michiana on the shores of Lake Michigan is home to log cabin homes built in the 1930s that are found dotted throughout the forest. Our cabin was the first prototype for all of the logs in the village and it really is a special place. The previous owner was a Chicago fashion designer and the property was filled with incredible antiques they had collected (including 14 taxidermy animal heads!) and unique details that immediately caught our eye when we first saw it. Read More>>

Nur Shah

Our vision for House of Her was clear from the start: it wouldn’t just be a café. It would be a private ladies’ lounge—a sanctuary where women could truly unwind and feel at home. Growing up in Hamtramck, a community rich with cultures from all over the world, we were inspired to infuse those influences into the space. I’ve always had a passion for cooking and creating, and I wanted to bring that love into the lounge. Whether it’s a dessert blending Bangladeshi and Yemeni flavors or a refreshing drink with a Mexican twist, I wanted the menu to reflect the beauty of diversity. Read More>>

Robert Dunlap

Later in life, my wife and I started utilizing a RV for camping and as happens to many RVers, we kept getting a bigger rig until it finally became a chore to camp (due to the size of the camper and the associated packing for trips, it was becoming less fun to camp). At that point we (my wife and I) decided that we would like to find a cabin that we could outfit for weekend trips and all we would have to do is to drive to it and enjoy it. In addition, we were looking forward to retirement and wanted to find a place that would fit into those future plans. Of course, we chose Michigan as our location. Read More>>

Jaida Morgan

My story is deeply rooted in the timeless wisdom and guidance passed down from my family, as well as the impact of youth programs that have positively impacted my life. Growing up, I was fortunate to be guided by my family’s support and to participate in youth programs centered on leadership, community, and personal development. Those experiences not only shaped my identity but also gave me a sense of purpose and the confidence to dream big. Read More>>

Von & Carol Kinsey

I asked Von if he could do anything in the world, what would he do. Von said, he’d build a house on Grandpa’s Farm and teach woodworking classes. His answer wasn’t a great surprise. Von had studied fine furniture making under James Krenov at the College of the Redwoods in Northern California early in our marriage, and even as a P&G employee, taught woodworking classes for a group of homeschooled teens. Encompassed in his dream, were a whole lot of other dreams. Dreams we both shared strongly: raising our two daughters on a farm, starting a small business, and having some kind of Christian camp on the farm. It all seemed to mesh, and yet, how to make it happen? Read More>>

Nicole Dewey

The gardening also seemed to be endless. No matter which Grandparent’s house I was at, I remember them having a large garden. I can still smell the fresh summer air and feel the cool dirt between my toes. Alongside my mother in her garden, I would “help” pick green beans; Grandma’s Garden was more of a landscaping/flower/weeding project of love. Grandpa Dennis’ Garden was on the other side of the state in Bellvue, MI. At my strong height of 3 ½ feet, his plants felt like something out of a rainforest. The garden seemed endless; there were tomatoes and cucumbers for days. Going back to that 1/4-acre plot of land today makes that garden feel so much smaller with adult eyes. Read More>>

Julianna Moore

I was flooding my personal social media with photos and videos of her and it was clear Maple needed her own space to shine and thats how her Instagram was born! It quickly gained traction and in a little over 6 months she was at 10,000 followers!n Nearly three years later, Maple has account on all major platforms and her instagram account has gained over 18,000 followers, becoming more than just a creative outlet. Its allowed me to go all in with content creation and launched my career in social media marketing. Maple and I are two peas in a pod and she has truly changed my life in more ways than one. Read More>>

Alisa Peskin-shepherd

I am a strong leader with an open mind, and I am often in the role of teaching others to cultivate strength to get through difficult times. I am determined, I have great perseverance, and I am very disciplined, and all of this has come in handy as I’ve built my legal career. But I also have a healthy respect for family, so when I work with divorce clients, I don’t just see a client–I see a person with family connections and relationships that factor into our work, too. I care about them, what they’re going through, where they’ve been, and most importantly, where they are going. Read More>>

Victoria Young

We became close, and I fell in love with love with the environment of the tattoo shop. Through my time getting tattooed there, I also became close with Brittni, one of the owners of Ink Therapy. She does lash extensions out of Studio XO, the attached salon inside of the tattoo shop. I begged her for an opportunity to bring nails into their shop, and she took a chance on me. Fast forward two years later, and I now do nails inside the coolest place to work alongside Taylor, another amazing nail tech I am lucky to work with. Read More>>

Carrie Strouse

My journey commenced with enrollment in Massage Therapy school. I devoted numerous hours outside of class learning from one of the best deep tissue Massage Therapist and sharpening my skills through practice. Subsequently, I had the opportunity to learn alongside several other exceptional therapists. I was extremely fortunate to have these opportunities, which in turn caused me to love my career. Upon graduating, I launched Massage Suite 4 LLC., and created Unwinding Spaces LLC., as of my latest business venture. Read More>>

Alexis Robertson

From a young age, my heart was set on advocating for animals. I vividly remember my early days at 14, volunteering at an animal shelter, where I first witnessed the profound impact of compassion and community support on both animals and the people who care for them. This passion only intensified as I gained hands-on experience at an animal hospital, solidifying my resolve to pursue a career that combined my love for animals with a commitment to public service. Read More>>

Samantha Smigelski

We are so grateful for the transition of my life’s circumstances so that I can live out my dream of owning a studio and sharing the wonders of the yoga practice while also being close to home, able to play with my baby girl and watch her grow. While there are things I miss about the corporate world, the joys of studio ownership far outweigh anything I miss. We are so grateful for my unexpected early retirement, our community, our family, and most importantly, our time that we can now spend together. Read More>>

Sean Brezzell

Like most business it has had it’s ups and downs. We have been able to handle everything that has been thrown at us because we are a great team. We made it through the pandemic, now with the price of good going up we just have to stay focused on what got us here. Now everywhere you look someone has a business of some sort. We just make sure we are consistent and focus everyday. Read More>>

Vanessa Brown

My twin sister and I have a permanent jewelry business called Forever EnTWINed. We create bracelets, anklets, and rings that embody effortless elegance. Crafted to be weightless, these pieces liberate you from clasps, offering a seamless adornment experience. I am most proud that we are doing this business together which helps to bring us closer. What sets us apart from others is not only are we a minority owned, female owned business we are also identical twins! Read More>>

Keith Allard

I love taking unique ingredients or techniques that aren’t often heard of in America, and then fusing them with our hyper-regional local produce in West Michigan. One of my favorite dishes is to take peak tomatoes, juice them, and make a cold dashi from the juice which I love with some simple udon noodles and grated daikon. Conversely, some of my most famous dishes involved big flavors and a lot of irreverence – the most popular dish at my restaurant was a chirashi bowl with crumbled up potato chips and a miso “ranch” dressing on top. Read More>>

Chris Nordin

In 2001, I realized that we were making much more than just some of the Midwest’s best custom & production glass. This led the change of the business name to Furnace Design Studio LLC. Opening the door for the scope of what we were created to become much more diverse and specialized in the Healthcare and Hospitality industry. Out growing their space in Detroit in 2002 we purchased their current 15,000 SFT facility in “The little D” Dearborn Michigan just outside of Detroit. This expansion provoked the formation of our second business, the Glass Academy LLC. Read More>>

Michael Chait

I focused hard on directing and learning/becoming the best filmmaker possible while at Columbia, and I treated each class project like it was a big movie, putting a huge amount of effort into everything we did with a camera. I was lucky enough to be 1 of 6 directing students that got to make a senior thesis film in the “Practicum” class, and even though it was the hardest shoot I had experienced yet and not the greatest short, it wound up playing nationally on The Syfy Channel which was great as a brand new college graduate trying to get work! Read More>>

Laura Johnson

It has been a wonderful integration of our individual skills to deliver great results to our patients. We keep growing and innovating as this is an ever changing and advancing field. In fact, right now as we speak Dr. Rojas is at a continuing education seminar to learn all there is to know about PDO threads! We hope to offer that service in the very near future and are interested to add PRP, exosomes and hair restoration to our service menu as well. The only challenge we see is we’ll need a larger parking lot to accommodate the demand! Read More>>

Jeffrey Lewis Bennett

What they missed is what I love about this career. I love taking the photos and I love editing the photos. I was not interested in changing that. Eventually the “fame” wore off, the reporters quit calling. I wrestled with doubt. Did I still had any talent? Coming down off that high I focused on improving my work and customer service. A decade later there isn’t even much in my portfolio from that era. Read More>>

Analiese Zaleski

My Mom and I spend an outrageous amount of time at our storage unit, we actually nick named it the Penthouse because it’s on the top floor. Penthouse days are usually long days for us, generally I’ll work an 8-hour shift at my day job and then head over to work there for 5 hours depending on what we have to do. When I first started RT my mom and I both had compact cars, and we would cram everything in there for our markets. Eventually in 2022 I sold my car and got a much needed upgraded and purchased an SUV. Now we have plenty of room for all of the market things and my mom and I can drive together to shows. Read More>>

Cay Diffin

It defiantly hasn’t been the easiest or smoothest road. From collaborating with the wrong people & seeing how it can entirely dismantle the momentum to the logistical nightmare that comes with living on an island; every dinner has had its challenges. Branching out on my own & relocating was the most challenging thing I’ve had to do, but seeing Savor take off & grow the way it did —I wouldn’t change a single moment. Read More>>

Sarah Hedeman

With FRNG being a form of self expression and what I love, the work is up for interpretation of the buyer. It took courage to put myself out there. Through feedback and repeat customers I have gained confidence in my work. I have been asked to participate in pop-up shows and have learned to love and relax the experience. Read More>>

Chelsea Hren

I continued educating myself and finding more holistic paths to take. I felt a pull towards restorative yoga and enrolled in a 200 hour trauma-informed yoga and meditation teacher training through the Anuttara School of Yoga. I also had been researching the benefits of somatic therapies on the body in regards to healing from trauma, so I also enrolled in additional training called Somatic Movement with SomaYoga Institute. Read More>>

Ashlyn Zwemmer

We are most proud of the culture our brand has created. It is a culture of acceptance. We truly want our customers to feel comfortable, loved, and appreciated when they shop with us. We strive to give them the best possible service while giving them honest opinions on what looks best on them! I would want anyone reading to know that even though shopping can be so intimidating, we try to make it a breeze here at A to Z! We don’t follow you around the store pressuring you and hoping you buy something, instead we are here as a resource for you to help make your shopping experience easy and hopefully enjoyable! Read More>>

Lydia Randolet

I started Milk + Body as a side hustle at the end of 2019. A coworker had taught me how to make soap and I fell in love with the process. I figured why not make a go of it as a business? 2021 brought some changes to my life and I jumped headfirst into the business full-time. Ever since, it’s been a non-stop learning experience between product formulation and scaling up. Six years later, I now sell five different kinds of products across 32 states in a variety of industries ranging from boutiques and hotels to refilleries and spas. Read More>>

Jarrod Napierkowski

I work mainly with wood, much of which is found on hikes near our home in Ada, MI. I’m proud to say I don’t add any stain, dye, or paint to my work and all the colors you see are natural. I’m inspired by Mid Century design and the natural world, specifically our beautiful corner of the Midwest. Knowing that the art I create is helping punctuate someone’s style aesthetic is such a great feeling and I try not to take it for granted. Read More>>

Anthony Blackburn

The opportunities that I have gained have been equally surprising and am definitely looking forward to the future!!!! I’m always representing Michigan everytime I am on the screen walking out for my matches! I’ve started my own #righton1army movement and will be continuing this strategy of striking right on one! I love the states of Michigan and have family ans friends all over the state. I have hopes of having my own restaurant or business that I can build up and use to help others! I always aim to be an upstanding person and have a positive outlook on life! Read More>>

Kathleen Kalinowski

In recent years, she has expanded her artistic exploration to include the landscapes and cultures of Ireland, Germany, Italy and France. Notably, Kathleen participated in the Land Conservancy of West Michigan’s Preserved! Initiative, creating artwork on site inspired by protected areas and contributing to a documentary about the program. Kathleen is sensitive to the visual world, looking for the aesthetic poetry in the landscape near and far. She hopes her paintings will encourage others to appreciate nature’s beauty wherever they may find it. She also hopes her work will connect spiritually, emotionally and visually to the viewer, a gift that encourages participation and connection. Read More>>

Carrie Hensel

I grew up on a small farm in the middle of Michigan. As a child and teenager, I spent most of my days exploring the land – watching the trilliums grow in the woods, wading in the creek in search of crayfish, or spying on a mother fox who raised her kits each spring in a den under the same ancient apple tree. My goal then was the same as it is now – collect the experiences, catalog them inside me, remember them fondly like old friends. Back then, I wanted to be an artist AND concurrently the first scientist ever to discover a cure for chicken pox. Why did I have to choose between those professions? Why not both and more? Read More>>

Brandy Gerber

I began my art journey as a way to spend time with my Gramma Dee. I would visit every Friday while I was in grad school pursuing a music degree. She had an open apartment above her house that we turned into an art studio. We followed instructional books and videos. She gave me tips and pointers along the way. Those afternoons were less about the painting and more about us becoming close friends. They are priceless memories now that she has passed. I continued to paint, switching from oils to acrylics because of the faster drying time.  Read More>>

Anthony Colombo

Some struggles I had over the past 10 years, was taking jobs at different media companies taking my focus away from Pistons Talk. I soon realize If I wanted to make things work I needed to treat It like any other job I’ve had putting in long hours and to be consistent with It everyday. Read More>>

Niya Stone

I soon launched my Instagram page, Niya The Stylist, to showcase my work and find people willing to let me practice. Despite my lack of confidence in my work, I kept taking model clients at home to improve. When I discovered my school’s cosmetology program in my 3rd year in high school, I knew I had to join. Over two years, I learned, practiced on peers, and studied for my state board exam, determined to get licensed by just 18 years old. Read More>>

Wendy Berry

There’s something deeply satisfying about finishing a piece you’ve poured so much time and thought into. Getting it to match the vision in your head is its own kind of high. You can learn to be a good illustrator, but I believe there’s also something inherited in it. My grandmother was an artist, and I have sisters and a niece who are all incredibly talented as well. Read More>>

Rich Larsen

I had to do a lot of hands-on learning along the way. I watched hours of instructional videos and read as much as I can about processes. I also reached out to other knifemakers with questions and found the community to be very supportive. I learned that if a blade cracked sometimes, it could be reground into a smaller knife. I learned temperature control is very important during heat treatment. My biggest take away would be to treat mistakes and failures as learning experiences and keep trying. Read More>>

Jeanine Yancy

I always wanted to start my own business but it’s a scary idea and I worked about an hour from home for the first few years so it didn’t make sense. Once I was able to to develop client and contractor relationships closer to home, and people were asking me for additional help outside of kitchen and bath design then I knew I could take the leap. I’ve had a lot to learn on the business end of things, but God has provided the business and growth. Read More>>

Elizabeth Broniak

Ive been an entrepreneur my whole life growing up. I love to craft and create unique and fun items on my free time. I was working at Burger Street grille and Cafe but decided to put my all into the store. Im really good at flyers and post pretty much marketing for my business. But im really proud of not giving up on my dreams i have for the business and working with our incredibly talented vendors to put on classes & events in our space and just making the entire experience of owning a small business fun. Read More>>

Christian Bates

Howdy, my name’s Christian and by my 25th birthday I had accomplished virtually nothing with my life. An odd way to start an interview, perhaps, but the larger point I’d like to make here is that regardless of where you’re at in life, a time window of serious dedication can not only bring you back to average, but slingshot you far ahead of your peers. At the time of this interview, I’m a few months away from my 30th birthday and recently finished my second accounting degree, a BBA from the University of Michigan, which comes after my Associate’s from LCC, having earned a 4.0 in every class at both schools. During that time I also lost 130 pounds, learned Chinese, got certified with Intuit, and opened a business, Vitality Bookkeeping. Read More>>

Aly Darin

There have been some definite bumps along the way, like recession & economic struggles which meant my client’s had to tighten their budgets and less likely to invest in photography. Also, the Covid shut down bringing everything to a standstill. Through all of these I knew I was on the right path and feel very lucky to have pivoted into different areas of photography to get through the tough times and still serve my clients. Read More>>

Ali Bennett

With a newborn and 3 other children at home, I knew not working was not an option. So, I started looking into starting my own business to have the flexibility to take time off when I needed to support my family. As I explored starting my own business, I realized I lacked the skills and resources needed to succeed. I was fortunate enough to have mentors and connections who not only showed me compassion but also helped me brainstorm ideas for how to grow my business. These connections pushed me to expand my business knowledge and most importantly helped me build my confidence. Read More>>

Jerry Robinson

Following this, I transitioned into my current role of General Manager at Launch Family Entertainment – Lansing, where I lead a large team, managed complex operations, and focused on revenue growth, customer engagement, and staff development. My experience across different industries has given me a strong foundation in business leadership, problem-solving, and strategic planning. I continue to grow my skill set and look forward to continue working with Launch Family Entertainment for years to come! Read More>>

Davine Calkins

My husband and I started the process of getting the business structure in place in 2017 while I was on staff, full time at a local organization, Fresh Coast Alliance, as their Employment Director. I was doing the employment readiness, training and life coaching to men and women that were returning to our communities after incarceration. I was seeing a huge discrepancy in their readiness to take on the huge tasks of finding employment and truly being ready with what was needed to be successful in their every day. The main mission of The 490 Bakery is to be hope and encouragement to men and women coming out of incarceration, additionally we purpose to be a blessing to our communities. Read More>>

Justine Mcneill

So that year I attended Youmacon, an anime convention in downtown Detroit, and found out that people were selling their art at the convention. Every convention I attended after that I stayed in the Artist Alley for hours. I thought those people were so cool. They reminded me of traveling salesmen! I was always so inspired by their art and their work ethic, but never had the guts to actually pursue it myself. Read More>>

Lydia Walsh

At 19 I decided I needed a change of scenery. I moved from Indiana to Michigan, pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education, but it wasn’t quite igniting the passion in me that I was chasing. I decided to check out the local massage therapy school here in Kalamazoo, not really intending to pursue an education, but honestly, it all just fell into place from there. I graduated from the Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts the day after my 22nd birthday in 2012. Read More>>

Katie Ziel

It remained just a fun hobby until 2015 when I decided to officially start a business! During this time, I was working full-time for a local business, and co-workers starting inquiring about sessions after seeing my Facebook posts. The business started to grow, but remained very much a “side-hustle” until 2023. All of the money that I made went right back into upgrading equipment and investing in education via online courses. If I’m being 100% honest – I never anticipated going full-time with my business! Read More>>

Alex Crafard

There has been bumps like every band goes through. You have to start somewhere and it can be a grind to get yourself out there and build a reputation. Especially since we formed right before Covid restrictions. We couldnt play shows for a while but as soon as we could we were on it!! Its all worth it but can be a lot of work and time though we are proud of what we’ve done so far and know we will continue to grow. No matter what, we’re having fun and sharing our music with people. Read More>>

Johdi

My beautiful black mama became my biggest cheerleader. Taking me to every audition, rehearsal, performance, and class! She nurtured my gifts and made sure I had the outlets I needed to express and grow. Now I’m a full time independent artist and vocalist! I’ve shared stages with some of the legends and musical favorites. Every day I wake up and thank God for blessing me with my voice and the ability to live my dreams and passions out. I’m currently working on my first album. I can’t wait for everyone to hear this new music. It has my heart and soul in it. Read More>>

Jess Trusty

My background includes caregiving and some nursing school. I worked in nursing homes prior to working for Harbor Health and Massage. I also have an associates degree from Grand Rapids Community College, earned in 2020 with an emphasis in general accounting. I am, and have always been passionate for helping others — my role as owner of Harbor Health and Massage helps me do that everyday! Read More>>

Blake Wyant

I am a go getter but also very humble. I love being able to help people in any way! I work a lot of jobs throughout the community and continue to grow my business that way. I will never buy a lead because it just doesnt feel right, I want to meet them and guide them the natural way!! Read More>>

Aarey Wooten

Another significant challenge has been the delicate balancing act of running a business while maintaining a full-time job. Managing time effectively between these two demanding roles requires constant attention and often means making difficult choices about where to focus energy and resources. Read More>>

Sanya Pittman

It definitely has not been a smooth road. I trust God wholeheartedly so the downsides aren’t as bad as they seem. Sometimes I’ll go a week or 2 with maybe 3 clients total and sometimes I’ll overbook myself and be too tired to work for the week. I’m still finding a balance but I love what I do so it’s worth it. Read More>>

Mike Holt

Today, I’m proud to see the seeds I planted grow—not just as a business but as a family legacy in the making. It’s about empowering my children and future generations with the tools and resources to continue building, innovating, and giving back. This journey has been about more than financial success; it’s about creating lasting change and showing what’s possible when vision meets action. Read More>>