A variety of Detroit restaurateurs and hospitality professionals came together for a recent Accelerate event hosted by What Now Media Group at Experience Zuzu, located at 511 Woodward Ave, Suite 100 in downtown Detroit. The gathering created a dynamic space for local restaurant owners and industry leaders to connect, share insights, and learn strategies for thriving in the city’s competitive culinary scene.
Experience Zuzu, an eclectic dining concept in the heart of Detroit, hosted the complimentary event, welcoming dozens of business owners featured on What Now Detroit. Attendees enjoyed a vibrant afternoon of networking and thoughtful conversation, culminating in a presentation focused on practical strategies for growing and scaling their businesses in today’s evolving restaurant landscape.
The event was led by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, and featured a strong turnout of restaurateurs, operators, and decision-makers who are actively shaping Detroit’s food and beverage scene. Joining Mariah in this event was Evan Gallagher, What Now’s full-time regional reporter for What Now Detroit.
Among the local operators in attendance was Shannon Walz, director of operations at Anna’s House, and Jake Corie, senior general manager of the brand. Known for its vibrant breakfast and brunch offerings, Anna’s House is rapidly growing across Michigan with plans for a new location in Detroit.
Eduardo “Eddie” Vargas, owner of Tacos Wuey Detroit, was also present, along with Tiffany Garza, the event coordinator for the brand. The up-and-coming taqueria is making waves with its fresh, street-style approach to Mexican cuisine in Southwest Detroit.
Other attendees included Dwayne Crawford and Zay Crawford, co-owners of Dot & Etta’s Shrimp, LLC, a seafood-focused concept currently planning its first brick-and-mortar location. Also in attendance was Frank Blackman, co-owner of Pequeno Cantina, a popular Latin-inspired eatery preparing for its second Detroit location.
Detroit newcomers Zeinab Ballout and Talal Ballout, co-franchisees of Toastique, connected with fellow operators. Their gourmet toast and juice bar concept is bringing a health-forward twist to downtown.
Also representing the city’s diverse food scene was Kristin Geldmacher, owner of Fit Bites Cafe, and Jason Milbeck, co-owner of Franco’s Italian Pizzeria, a Portage staple now under new ownership with plans to evolve its offerings.
Mahmoud Elder, owner of Coffee Dreams and Sweet Dreams Knafeh, shared plans for his upcoming Canton location, which will blend coffee with Middle Eastern desserts. The mix of legacy operators and fresh faces in the crowd underscored Detroit’s emerging culinary momentum.
In addition to the robust turnout from restaurant owners, more than a dozen representatives from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners attended to provide guidance and resources for operators ready to grow.
Andrew Jasina from Credibly was on hand to discuss business funding solutions tailored for growing restaurants. At the same time, Josh Zeid of Stokas Bieri Real Estate offered strategic insights into Detroit’s commercial real estate market.
From the POS technology front, Jen Pare and Steve Collin of SpotOn spoke with operators about efficient point-of-sale solutions designed for hospitality environments, while Randy Wiley from Global Payments and Jon Kottler from Heartland offered insights into back-office streamlining and payroll solutions.
Curtis Crawford of Our Town America explained how their direct mail marketing approach helps restaurants grow by connecting with new movers in the area. Meanwhile, Payton Perani from Great Lakes Hotel Supply Company provided expert advice on kitchen equipment and installation planning for upcoming builds.
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 provided a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and establish 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 to take place.
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 2025. 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.
