Three new businesses open in Detroit’s North End with Motor City Match support

• Motor City Match celebrates 186th, 187th and 188th business openings

• New MCM businesses include a luxury hair salon, full-service creative agency and made-to-order rolled ice cream shop

• Combined $160,000 in Motor City Match grants supported build-out costs, equipment, furnishings and business expansion

• Through 28 rounds of Motor City Match: $19.5 million awarded in cash grants; 85 percent of Motor City Match businesses are minority-owned, 70 percent are women-owned, 68 percent are owned by Detroit residents

JUNE 9, 2025 (DETROIT) — Three new businesses held official ribbon cuttings today in Detroit’s North End with support from the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and City of Detroit, bringing the total number of Motor City Match business openings to 188 since the program began. Beauti Kafe, Modish Creative Co. and MIXD Rolled Ice Cream opened their doors in a commercial building on Woodward Avenue, receiving a combined $160,000 in Motor City Match grants.

The three newcomers join a growing cluster of Motor City Match businesses that have transformed the intersecting North End, New Center and Milwaukee Junction neighborhoods. Previous recipients, including JP Makes and Bakes, The Kitchen by Cooking with Que, Yum Village, Textures by Nefertiti, Someday, and Baobab Fare, have created a stretch of locally owned shops and eateries that residents say has brought new energy to the area.

“When you see this kind of concentration of locally owned businesses opening in one area, you know something special is happening,” said Deputy Mayor Melia Howard. “These entrepreneurs are creating jobs, serving their neighbors and proving that Detroit’s small business ecosystem is thriving.”

A $65,000 grant awarded in Round 24 helped business owner Marquita Dace bring made-to-order rolled ice cream to an area previously lacking ice cream shops. The native Detroiter and North End resident pivoted from a career in health administration to launch MIXD Rolled Ice Cream, inspired by a concept she discovered on social media.

MIXD Rolled Ice Cream offers basic cups starting at $4.99 and signature flavors for $7.99, with options ranging from vanilla and chocolate to Oreo cheesecake, brownie delight and strawberry cheesecake. The shop at 7446 Woodward Ave., Suite 112, is open 1-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2-8 p.m. Sunday.

“Being able to be part of my community is a great feeling,” said Dace. “It’s surreal, but I think I’ve been living in this moment since 2022 when I thought of the idea. It feels really good to have my own business, challenge myself, and do something in this industry.”

Detroit native Colleen Jackson used her $65,000 Motor City Match grant to complete the build-out of Beauti Kafe, an Aveda Concept salon she relocated from Ferndale. With more than 35 years in the beauty industry, Jackson wants to create a warm, welcoming space where women can receive quality beauty services in the city while training the next generation of stylists.

Located at 7446 Woodward Ave. Suite 107, Beauti Kafe offers services for all hair types including silk presses, blowouts, haircuts, steam treatments and color by appointment Tuesday through Saturday. Jackson is interviewing additional stylists and hopes to become a training hub for beginners within five years, possibly opening her own beauty school.

“This grant helped me finish things out – I was boots on the ground, doing it as I went,” said Jackson, who also mentors young stylists through a state-registered apprenticeship program. “This grant came right on time and I was able to finish paying contractors. Motor City Match really helped lighten the load.”

Cristina Magaña used her $30,000 Motor City Match grant to move Modish Creative Co., her growing graphic design agency, from California to a new North End office. Her team focuses on branding and design services for small businesses and nonprofits, and runs the second-year “Make Me Modish” competition that provides free branding packages to Detroit entrepreneurs.

Located at 7446 Woodward Ave. Suite 109, Modish Creative Co. has worked with businesses like Design Core, Beyond Juicery, Make Food Not Waste, Detroit Wing Company, PizzaCat, Zestia Greek Street Food, Jacoby’s and Motor City Match recipient Anna’s Café.

“Detroit hustles, and that’s a known fact,” said Magaña. “I wanted to be a part of that and find a way to give back to others.”

Since 2022, Motor City Match has provided a total of $670,000 in cash grants to businesses opening new storefronts in the North End, New Center and Milwaukee-Junction neighborhoods.  

“These numbers tell the story of real people taking real risks to build something impactful in their community,” said Sean Gray, vice president of Small Business Services at the DEGC, which manages the Motor City Match program. “When we can help turn a $670,000 investment into millions of dollars in economic activity, that changes neighborhoods.”

Through 28 rounds of Motor City Match:    

• Total cash grants: $19.5 million (Total leveraged investment: $104.5 million)   

• 85 percent are minority-owned businesses   

• 70 percent are women-owned businesses   

• 68 percent are businesses owned by Detroit residents

About Motor City Match      

Motor City Match is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions and corporations including, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Ford Foundation, Hudson Webber Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, New Economy Initiative, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly. More information is available at www.MotorCityMatch.com.