Jay Davis

Detroit

Reporter at Crain's Detroit Business

@crainsdetroit retail/restaurants/sports/small biz reporter. [email protected]. @hfcc Adjunct. @michiganstateu/@thesnews alum. Lots of sports talk here.

Articles

WCSX-FM to broadcast University of Michigan athletics

1 week ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

University of Michigan athletics has a new radio home. Radio station 94.7 WCSX-FM is the new flagship radio broadcaster of the Wolverines. It’s a partnership between UM, Learfield’s Michigan Sports Properties and Beasley Media Group Detroit. The partnership between UM and WCSX-FM will start this fall with the 2025 UM football season. Play-by-play announcer Doug Karsch and color commentator and former UM football standout Jon Jansen will stay on to call UM football games for WCSX.
Marrow chef Sarah Welch to trade her place in Detroit to open a Traverse City restaurant

1 week ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

A notable chef who helped launch a popular Detroit butcher and restaurant business is heading north to start her own business. Sarah Welch, a partner in Marrow in West Village and seafood restaurant Mink in Corktown is leaving Detroit to open a restaurant in Traverse City with her husband Cameron Rolka, who is the executive chef at Mink. The James Beard Foundation award-nominated chef is a partner in the restaurants with Ping Ho under her Backbone Hospitality Group, which has been growing.
Cava picks downtown Detroit for first Michigan location

1 week ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

Detroit will be the first city in Michigan with a fast-growing fast-casual chain. Mediterranean brand Cava will open its first Michigan location this summer in downtown Detroit. The restaurant will run out of a space at 636 Woodward Ave. in the Bedrock Building, according to a news release. Cava will join Chipotle on the list restaurants inside the Bedrock Building. Cava sells Mediterranean food like customizable bowls, pitas, salads and a variety of dips and sides.
Royal Oak barbecue restaurant to close later this month

1 week ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

A restaurateur with spots in Detroit and Oakland County is closing one of his businesses later this month. Lockhart’s BBQ will close for good on April 20, according to an April 11 social media post. The restaurant opened in August 2010 at 220 E. Third St.Lockhart’s is owned by Drew Ciora. Ciora also owns the Royal Oak Brewery, Detroit Beer Company, and The 313 Pizza Bar in Lake Orion.
Detroit’s Slows Bar BQ expands to Berkley with full-service spot downtown

1 week ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

Slows Bar BQ, which turns 20 years old this year, is taking another run at the suburbs. Detroit-based Slows plans to open a restaurant later this year in Berkley, according to a social media post. The new Slows will take over a space at 3087 12 Mile Road that housed restaurant and gastropub Berkley Common until it recently closed. The Berkley Slows will be the brand’s latest try at running a restaurant outside of Detroit. Slows at points had restaurants in Grand Rapids and Pontiac.
Dusty Johnson misrepresents the SAVE Act, which would make it harder for all Americans to register to vote — The South Dakota Standard

1 week ago | sdstandardnow.com | Jay Davis

On April 10, I received an urgent email message from South Dakota's lone representative, Dusty Johnson, requesting my opinion on a pending issue of great importance.
Max Sussman to open Bev’s Bagels in Detroit's Core City

2 weeks ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

A metro Detroit native and award-winning chef plans to open a bagel business in a spot that’s familiar with the popular breakfast item. Huntington Woods native Max Sussman will open Bev’s Bagels in a 2,200-square-foot space at 4884 Grand River Ave., Unit 1B, in Detroit. The cafe will open later this spring, according to a news release. Sussman, a James Beard Award-nominated chef, will run the business out of the space that previously housed the Detroit Institute of Bagels.
Detroit food truck owner expands with carryout spot in Ferndale

2 weeks ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

Another food truck business is expanding by opening a brick-and-mortar location. Da Bomb Taco owner Lisa Sessions will open a carryout restaurant this summer at 1100 W. Eight Mile Road in Ferndale in a 700-square-foot space at a Shell gas station. The restaurant will have an expanded menu beyond the truck’s nine core tacos, Sessions said, adding nachos, quesadillas and salads. “It’s really using ingredients we already have on hand to increase menu breadth efficiently,” Sessions said.
Detroit baker pivots to healthier parfait-style cakes in ambitious retail expansion

2 weeks ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

The owner of a Detroit-based baked goods business is retooling his goods and expanding production with a goal of getting into more stores. Wani Cakes LLC is making a push to get placement inside 50 stores this year. The company, owned by Nigeria-born Anwelli Okpue, is working on expanding deals with Meijer Inc. and Fresh Thyme Market grocery chains.
Grey Ghost owners reveal name for upcoming Ferndale burger carryout restaurant

2 weeks ago | crainsdetroit.com | Jay Davis

Grey Ghost's upcoming carryout burger offshoot in Ferndale now has a name and cool look. Little Ghost is slated to open this summer at 22305 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale. The new venture comes from Four Man Ladder Hospitality, which owns and operates Detroit restaurants Grey Ghost and Second Best in the Brush Park neighborhood and Basan downtown. "We’re really excited to bring this new project to life," chef and co-owner Joe Giacomino said.