The big guys with the big trucks marked off the site this morning to start digging a new foundation for what will eventually be our bagel production space between PJs Lager House and the existing bagel building.

First lesson learned, we have to get a porta potty on site (it’ll be there tomorrow, fellas!).

If you have any questions about construction or anything else you can email ben@detroitinstituteofbagels.com or call 313-444-9342.

More to come. Thanks for your patience.

While we won’t be able to get you great bagels for a few more months, we can whet your appetite with our ideas for improving place and connecting communities. Our location, 1236 Michigan Avenue, is the default gateway to Corktown. This is a responsibility we don’t take lightly. We have attempted to design a place that welcomes people traveling from Downtown into the neighborhood. Our design is intended to invite both customers arriving by way of auto and customers who will arrive by way of bus rapid transit. We also wish to use design to encourage customers to explore Detroit on foot. Pedestrians can either head west to Roosevelt Park or east to Campus Martius, both of which are less than 15 minute walks and probably only feel like 10 after carb-loading on some bagels! Below are some concepts for context. Click and then click again for large versions.

Friends, Detroiters, Bagelmen and women, lend us your ears,

A year ago, an idea sprouted to provide real, boiled and baked bagels in Detroit. It first grew quickly, feeding on excitement and innovation. But like any idea, it met reality and resistance. There were cloudy days when we asked ourselves, “Who starts a bagel shop nowadays?” and “What do we know about bagels?” We neglected the idea. We tried to forget about it. But friends, you did not let us forget. You praised our innovation, gave us your hard-earned dollars, and trumpeted our cause.

With renewed vigor, we marched forward. Who starts a bagel shop nowadays? Us! What do we know about bagels? A lot more than we did a year ago!

And…

Despite finishing in 5th place in the semi-finals, the organizers of Hatch Detroit have graciously offered us the opportunity to continue on in the competition because the votes were so close at the end of the semi-finals.

We feel it is important to honor the original rules of the competition and want to throw our support behind the four finalists: Alley Wine, Hugh, Woodbridge Gypsy Den & Tea Room, and Workroom. Despite their lack of a bagel-centric vision, all of these businesses present ideas that will improve the retail atmosphere of Detroit.

We are infinitely grateful for your support and votes! DIB is 100% moving forward with plans to open in Detroit. In the short run, you can find our bagels at different events around town, including at Model D’s “The Next Big Thing” event on Friday, October 21st.

To bagels and beyond!

1. Follow us on Twitter, where we’ll be coming up with bagel slogans to chant.
2. Like us on Facebook, where we’ll engage in town hall meetings.
3. Download your favorite DIB calendar for October, with voting reminders.
4. Download the campaign poster (the one to your right), and put it up by your computer, around town, or at work!
5. Sign up on our mailing list (for voting reminders and other DIB news):
   

6. Set your homepage to the voting page!

Remember, for bagel liberty, vote DIB!

Come say hi one last time, this Tuesday the 27th at 11am at Eastern Market.

The top 10 or so submissions will be announced on September 29th, when the public will be able to vote for their favorite ideas. We’ll let you know when we need your vote!

And in the mean time, make sure to check us out at our last three Tuesdays at Eastern Market starting at 11am – 9/13, 9/20, and 9/27.

The campaign succeeded in both reaching our fundraising goal and reaching out to the community to raise awareness about the drought of bagels in Detroit. Bagels, as we’ve witnessed, bring out passionate emotions.

What’s the immediate future hold for the DIB?

• Continuing to sell at Eastern Market on Tuesdays (the market opens at 11am, and we usually sell out by 1pm).
• Zeroing in on that dream location in the city.
• Once we have that location, calculating and shoring up the rest of the financial side.
• Submitting an application to Hatch Detroit.
• And maybe a Great American Bagel Tour…

We are extremely excited to start making bagels everyday in a shop we can call our own, and to finally repay all these rewards that we owe everyone!

Today, tomorrow, to bagels!

So donate early, and donate often, even if donating more than once doesn’t increase your chances of winning! And to those who already donated – you’re automatically entered!