A variety of Detroit-area restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Pequeno Cantina. The event provided a valuable opportunity for Detroit’s restaurant community to connect and share ideas on navigating the competitive market.
Pequeno Cantina, a modern Mexican-inspired restaurant located at 1521 Broadway Street, hosted the free event, bringing together dozens of representatives from businesses featured on What Now Detroit. This included local restaurants and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees networked over refreshments before attending a presentation on strategies for growth and success in today’s competitive market.
The event was hosted by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, and featured a range of notable restaurateurs and business owners.
Attendees included a variety of local restaurant owners, such as MaShawn Wilson, Director of Operations of Pequeno Cantina, a growing downtown concept expanding its footprint in the city’s hospitality scene, and Miranda Domenguez, Owner of Aperitivo, a cocktail and wine bar bringing a refined beverage-focused experience to the Ann Arbor market.
Other participants included Andy French and Hunter Erdman, Co-Owners of The Cafe at MOTO, a community-driven coffee shop designed for creatives and innovators, and Brent Krahn and Kelly Krahn, Co-Owners of Bowerbird Social, a café concept planned for downtown Ypsilanti focused on social gathering and neighborhood connection.
Also in attendance were Syreeta Brown, Owner of PetalPop Cafe, a plant-forward café concept, and Muhammad Siddiqui, Owner of Motor Chai Cafe, a forthcoming café concept in development in the Detroit metro area. Lucretia L Williams, Owner of Effin Egg Detroit, also joined the event, representing a breakfast-focused concept expanding across the region.
Additional attendees included Lamont Leak, Owner of Rent Free Coffee and Community, a community-centered café in Eastern Market focused on culture and connection, and Enrique Aquino, Co-Owner of Calixto Mexican Grill, a Mexican dining concept expanding into neighborhood developments.
Other participating operators included Catrina Staats, Owner of Chapel Coffee Co., a forthcoming café concept set in a repurposed historic space, and Evan Shina, Owner of Seaviche Tacos & Bowls, a fast-casual seafood-focused brand expanding in the metro area.
Representatives from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners also attended to provide expert guidance and support to local operators. In total, more than five Preferred Partner organizations were present, offering solutions spanning payroll, payments, reservations, scheduling, and restaurant technology.
Among them was Auris, which provides HR and payroll solutions designed to help operators streamline back-office operations. Global Payments offered insights into merchant services and point-of-sale systems that support restaurant efficiency and customer experience.
OpenTable shared strategies to improve reservation management and optimize guest flow, while Shifty focused on workforce scheduling and training solutions to help operators manage staffing more effectively. SpotOn also engaged with attendees, providing tools for payments, marketing, and customer engagement.
The restaurant owners and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners shared valuable insights, operational highlights, and expert advice, creating an engaging and informative evening that was both enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Mariah Medley to carry the conversation even deeper by discussing critical business points, such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Mariah and the guests shared their tips, knowledge, and concerns, everyone became quickly interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could help one another.
This event served as a valuable platform for both restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and form new connections. It’s clear that the Detroit restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations.
What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 33 cities across North America, breaking news, and provides timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 33 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 2026. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
Detroit Restaurateurs and Hospitality Leaders Connect at What Now Media Group’s Accelerate Event
