Business Owners Gather and Share Knowledge at Accelerate

Restaurant owners and industry-leading experts came together to help each other grow at a gathering hosted by What Now Media Group

Joey Reams
Written By Joey Reams
News Writer
Photo: What Now Media Group

Business professionals from the greater Detroit area gathered on Wednesday, October 30, to share insights, make connections, and collaborate at an Accelerate event hosted by What Now Media Group.

The free event at Sexy Steak featured more than 20 representatives from businesses featured on What Now Detroit, including restaurants and retail concepts, as well as a handful of industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees mingled while enjoying bites and beverages.

The new upscale Italian steakhouse, Sexy Steak, opened at the beginning of the year at 1942 Grand River Avenue in a historic Downtown building. It is the latest restaurant from West Bloomfield-based Prime Concepts Detroit, behind NARA Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse, PAO, Aurora Italiana, and the Wabeek Country Club. The welcoming restaurant is brought to life with luscious greenery and matching lighting to create an intimate dining concept. Sexy Steak offers prime cuts, an extensive drink menu, and live music.

During a presentation led by Caleb Spivak, Founder and CEO of What Now Media Group, local entrepreneurs and business representatives shared their experiences, provided updates on their progress, and reflected on what they learned while opening a brick-and-mortar business in Detroit. Some key takeaways included the importance of passion, the need to pivot effectively after emergencies, and the significance of connecting with others in the community.

Another topic discussed was sales tax automation. We know that taxes are a monthly obligation that consumes your valuable time and money, and mistakes can be costly. Our partners at DAVO by Avalara offer a powerful tool that automates every step of the sales tax process—from collecting to filing to paying. It integrates seamlessly with your POS system, so there’s nothing you need to do once you’re set up.

DAVO simplifies sales tax management with a one-time setup process. Once you complete this simple setup, DAVO handles everything for you. They collect and set aside sales tax daily, using data from your POS system, so you don’t have to worry about having enough cash at the end of the month. Additionally, DAVO automatically files your state sales tax on time, guaranteed. Did you know that some states even offer a discount for on-time filing? If you’re interested in learning how to eliminate the stress of sales tax, visit our partners at DAVO or contact them directly for more information.

This is the type of essential service that restaurant owners can learn about at Accelerate events, where they can connect with service providers and experts who can solve their problems or questions.

The helpful event saw plenty of business owners, such as Brandon Bahoura and Chris Denha of Pita Way, introducing themselves to one another. The two business owners provided updates about their restaurants, including a new location opening in Bay City later this month and how they’ve navigated the company since opening.

Also in attendance were Lucretia Williams and Shalicia Williams, the franchise owners of the first Effin Egg location in Detroit. On top of their updates, they shared with the group the experiences of opening the first-ever franchise in the city, what they’ve learned, and where they hope to go.

“I am addicted to positive human experiences and wanted to touch people in spaces of basic human need: food, water, or shelter,” Williams told What Now Detroit via email. “Effin Egg is a fast-casual, affordable breakfast restaurant that offers positive human interaction at the early part of their day.”

To help these first-time or veteran business owners were, various industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners, including Dan Dempsey and Megan Zumbach of Hyer. This simple, straightforward app connects businesses to on-demand labor and individuals to immediate work in real time.

Another great resource for restaurant owners at this event was the handful of POS Software specialists, including Heartland and Clover representatives. While some consider these two competitors with each other, What Now Media Group sees it as an opportunity to bring all the best options forward to help small business owners decide what is best for their situation.

This led CEO Caleb Spivak to discuss critical business points, such as efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Caleb and the guests shared their tips, knowledge, and thoughts, everyone quickly grew interested in learning more about their businesses and how they can help one another.

What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 31 cities across the U.S., breaking news and providing timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 31 cities annually.

The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.

Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2024. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.

Detroit Business Owners Gather and Share Knowledge at Accelerate
Photo: What Now Media Group
Detroit Business Owners Gather and Share Knowledge at Accelerate
Photo: What Now Media Group
Detroit Business Owners Gather and Share Knowledge at Accelerate
Photo: What Now Media Group

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Joey Reams was born and raised in San Diego and received a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism at San Francisco State University. While there, he interned for several publications while serving as SFSU's News Editor at Golden Gate Xpress for a semester. After college, Joey has worked in the freelance industry for ten years and counting, writing about community news, the music industry, breaking news, pop culture, and other diverse topics. Before joining What Now Media Group, Joey worked as the News Editor for Pasadena Now. In his free time, he enjoys exploring new cities, trying delicious food, and attending concerts.
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