DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 09-24-07 A 1 CDB 9/21/2007 6:31 PM Page 1 ® http://www.crainsdetroit.com Vol. 23, No. 39 SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2007 $2 a copy; $59 a year ©Entire contents copyright 2007 by Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved THIS JUST IN Auto dealers group to Study: Budget offer Cobo expansion plan Detroit auto dealers want to put a “quick-fix” expansion on Cobo Center that can be ready in time for the 2009 North American International Auto Show, said woes to remain Joe Serra, president of the Detroit Auto Dealers Associa- tion, last week. State needs changes in how it “We want to emphasize Who’s in we are not criticizing the long-term planning or raises money, spends, group says seeking to displace that this with this short-term pro- BY AMY LANE a period of uninterrupted state economic posal,” Serra said. year’s CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT growth,” said Tom Clay, emeritus direc- DADA plans, to be un- tor of state affairs for LANSING — Lawmakers are inching veiled in the next 30 to 60 the nonpartisan re- class? closer to resolving Michigan’s budget days, will call for 30,000 search council. crisis this year, but even once they do, square feet of space to be The final version of added on one level in the See Page 11. they’re not out of the woods yet. the study, to be re- southwest corner of Cobo A study by the Citizens Research Council leased soon, will re- at an estimated $8 million of Michigan and the W.E. Upjohn Institute flect solutions that cost. for Employment Research outlines the lawmakers arrive at “We want to make clear need for fundamental changes in Michi- for fiscal 2008. what the proposal is and gan’s revenue and spending structure Both House Speaker and indicates that even if Michigan’s Andy Dillon, D-Red- what costs are to accom- Clay plish it,” Serra said. When economy improves, the state is still go- ford Township, and questions are raised about ing to have budget problems. Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R- whether DADA or other “Spending pressures grow faster than Rochester, have said they want a budget private financial support revenues, even in a period of uninter- would be included, Serra rupted national economic growth and in See Budget, Page 56 said, “we’ll have some deci- sions to make.” A proposal for expanding Cobo Center put forward by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano includes new WHAT’S construction costs of about $425 million, plus another Talent roulette COOKING AT $180 million for an endow- LOCAL ment that would supply rev- enue for operating costs. Restaurants, hotels losing staff to casinos RESTAURANTS Serra, owner and presi- dent of Grand Blanc-based ISTOCKPHOTO.COM BY BRENT SNAVELY staff; Tribute, in Farmington Hills, New restaurants Staff changes Serra Automotive Inc., is cur- AND DANIEL DUGGAN lost executive chef Don Yamauchi; On Oct. 2, three fine-dining Local restaurants and hotels have rently junior co-chair of CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS Seldom Blues, in Detroit, has lost the auto show and will restaurants and a 400-room hotel lost some of their best people to about a half-dozen of its best wait will open as part of Detroit’s new casino restaurants head it up in 2009. Upscale restaurants and hotels MGM Grand staff; Andiamo has lost about a half- Detroit Casino L.L.C.’s grand and hotels: Tremendous pressure in metro Detroit believe they can dozen chefs; and Morton’s, The opening. for more show space has compete for customers with in- Restaurants Steakhouse in Troy lost its general They are: become exacerbated in re- coming powerhouse casino restau- Andiamo: A half-dozen chefs. manager, ac- Ⅲ , a 17,000- cent years. “In the 2008 rants created by celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck Grille cording to square-foot restaurant featuring Morton’s, The steak house in show, we are fortunate to Wolfgang Puck and Michael Mina, restaurant own- celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s Troy: General manager Todd have five new Chinese but they are losing the talent war. ers and hotel California-style cuisine to be Shepherd. companies coming,” he In preparation for its Oct. 2 managers. operated by Las Vegas-based Tribute: Executive Chef Don said. “But we’re in the grand opening, MGM Grand Detroit “My biggest Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group. Yamauchi, two sous chefs and a same box we’ve had for Casino L.L.C.’s restaurants have complaint is be- Ⅲ A 135-seat seafood restaurant wine steward. years, trying to fit more lured talented chefs, managers and cause of their called Saltwater and a 200-seat The Whitney: Two cooks. and more in, and we’re staff from some of Detroit’s best steak house called Bourbon Steak profit structure Seldom Blues: A half-dozen about ready to burst. restaurants and hotels. to be operated by San Francisco- in the casinos, waiters and waitresses. “If manufacturers can’t What’s more, they are doing it based Mina Group Inc. Vicari they are coming unveil their products, there by offering wages for midlevel in and inflating Meanwhile, MotorCity Casino L.L.C. Hotels opened its expanded gaming space will be some serious ques- chefs that exceed market rates by the job market as far as the pay The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn: tions about the future of the 30 percent or more, according to in June and plans to open a 400- that they are paying,” said Joe Vic- room hotel and to re-open its fine About 20 hospitality staff members. show here,” Serra said. Michael Lutes, executive chef at ari, CEO of Warren-based Andiamo dining restaurant, Iridescence, in The Townsend Hotel in — Robert Ankeny The Whitney in Detroit. Restaurant Group. “They’ve been its new home on Nov. 1. Birmingham: Two managers. See This Just In, Page 2 The Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn lost about 10 percent of its hospitality See Talent, Page 54 — Brent Snavely, Daniel Duggan Crain’s House Party: Tom Celani: From Detroit struts its wine to Harleys, NEWSPAPER stuff, Page 48 Page 3 DETROIT BUSINESS MAIN 09-24-07 A 2 CDB 9/21/2007 6:32 PM Page 1 Page 2 CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS September 24, 2007 Renaissance Inc. to help it fund be-built thoroughbred track in to become executive vice presi- ation by John Janviriya, a restau- THIS JUST IN planning for an aerotropolis ini- Wayne County. dent and COO of St. Vincent Health rant owner and designer who de- tiative and development of a cre- The hearing is to give those in- and president of St. Vincent Hospi- signed Mosaic in Greektown and ■ From Page 1 ative corridor in Detroit. volved a chance to provide infor- tal and Health Services in Indi- Crave in Dearborn and owns Both initiatives are part of a re- mation on proposed schedules anapolis. Melange in Ann Arbor. The Kmart Corp. HQ redevelopment gional economic plan Detroit Re- and their fitness to be licensed. — Sherri Begin restaurant is located in the same naissance launched last fall. Jerry Campbell, chairman of Citi- spot that was previously occu- meeting tonight in Troy The grant, to be split between zens Republic Bancorp in Ann Ar- Molina’s state head leaves pied by Pampas Churrascaria, a Details of a mixed-use plan for the two projects, serves as an en- bor and owner of one of the Brazilian restaurant. Average en- Pavilions of Troy at the site of the dorsement of the potential of the state’s largest horse stables, said Roman Kulich has left his posi- tree prices at Chen Chow are ex- former Kmart Corp. headquarters plan, dubbed “Road to Renais- he intends to sign an option on tion as president and CEO of Troy- pected to be between $18 and $36. will go before the Troy City Council sance,” to transform the region’s land in western Wayne County based Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Janviriya describes the style of in a special meeting tonight. economy, said Senior Program for a $70 million to $80 million Crain’s confirmed Friday. the cuisine as “pure Asian.” The council is weighing a con- Officer Laura Trudeau. thoroughbred track. Kulich had led the Michigan — Brent Snavely ceptual plan only for a develop- The grant will fund a master Campbell filed paperwork Aug. operation since the end of 2001. It’s unclear exactly when he left ment at the 43-acre site at Big plan for the area around Willow 31 with the state for 2008 race the job or why. Belle Tire offering new services Beaver Road and Coolidge High- Run Airport in Ypsilanti and Detroit dates and for a track license. Molina’s California-based par- Belle Tire plans to begin offering way. Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, Campbell is seeking the license ent, Molina Healthcare, did not re- auto windshield replacement and Troy City Manager Phil Nelson said Doug Rothwell, president of for dates given up last month by turn calls Friday seeking addi- repair through its 80 Michigan lo- said no decision is expected at the Detroit Renaissance. Aurora, Ontario-based Magna En- tional information. cations. informational meeting with rep- Chicago-based Jones Lang tertainment Corp. — Sherri Begin Allen Park-based Belle Tire resentatives of Reston, Va.-based LaSalle Inc. (NYSE: JLL) is doing — Bill Shea will provide on-site and mobile Richardson Development Group Inc. an aerotropolis development windshield replacement services, The site is owned by New York study which should be completed New restaurant for Birmingham by the first quarter next year, Ascension Health gets new chief as well as in-store stone-chip re- City investment firm BlackRock A 130-seat Asian restaurant pairs.