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An outdoor RECESS on July 28!

Join us for a special outdoor version of our 'Recess' after-work party on July 28 at Elmbrook Golf Course on Hammond Road in Traverse City. Come mix and mingle with the business community, enjoy food and drink, and more – for just five bucks! Lots of fantastic prizes!

Current Issue

June 2010 • Vol. 16 • Number 10

Entrepreneur

Backyard Inventions Get Ready for the Big Time

Technology

With Converged Solutions dead, its former rivals battle for its remains

Construction/Real Estate/Development

Law/Insurance/Accounting

Attention, Merchants: Your PCI Compliance is Required by July 1

Environment

Education

British Invasion: NMC's aviation program launches partnership venture to entice overseas pilots to train in TC.

Transportation

Start-Up of the Month

Start-up of the Month: Divine Designs

New eatery to replace The House

Westside Eats is apparently coming to 826 W. Front St., the former home of The House restaurant.

Vincent Fochtman Jr. of Traverse City filed the assumed name with the County Clerk on Jan. 17. A sign on the building says it will open soon; Fochtman didn’t return calls from the TCBN.

Michael Bauer and Joni Capling operated The House from 2003 until last December. They were known for using local farm products to create soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and spa cuisine.

Bauer, who was the founding chef of Poppycock’s and directed the kitchen at The Boathouse for many years, was recently named dining services director for Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools. GTACS’ new food program, “Life Balance,” creates everything from scratch using local, fresh and whole ingredients.

Entrepreneur to open first Verizon franchise store

The owner of Francisco's Market and Deli on Silver Lake Road in Traverse City is opening a Wireless Zone franchise that carries Verizon Wireless products and services. Opening the first week of March, it will be the area’s first freestanding Verizon franchise store.

Jason Francisco says The Wireless Zone is the

largest independent wireless franchise in the nation, with more than 300 stores—many along the East Coast—and expanding. “They are just growing and growing,” he said.

Best Buy in Traverse City also carries Verizon products, while Integrated Systems Consultants (ISC) on Cass Road in Traverse City has provided Verizon Wireless service for businesses since last spring.

The Wireless Zone will be housed in Francisco's Plaza, which houses the deli, the Coffee Bean Café (owned by Tom and Jill Gibler) and will soon house The Francisco Group real estate offices.

The Francisco Group, owned by Jason’s brother, Jim, and their father, Jerry, will be moving from Union Street in the next few weeks to accommodate the company’s growth. The company has specialized in commercial real estate since opening a year ago, and is now seeking to expand its residential division.