Reflecting its continued commitment to Detroit and the community, Olympia Development of Michigan has appointed three new executives who, together, bring decades of expertise to the company and community.

In her new role as Olympia Development’s Vice President, Government Affairs and Community Relations, Detroit native and resident Rian English Barnhill will lead community outreach efforts.  Barnhill will work in collaboration with residents, businesses, community organizations and public leaders to advance the company’s commitment to delivering new jobs for Detroiters, expanding access to affordable housing, and rejuvenating the city and neighborhoods with distinctive construction and redevelopment of storied landmarks.

“I am looking forward to ensuring a close link between our development efforts and the people of Detroit,” Barnhill said. “This begins with strengthening our engagement and communication with stakeholders and culminates with developments that truly benefit our great city and its residents.”

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Barnhill joins the Olympia Development team after having previously served in a variety of executive leadership positions, including roles with Detroit 90/90 and the Michigan Chronicle.

Zarah Karapetyan-Broglin, whose career spans tenures at Barton Marlow, Wayne State University, CBRE, and most recently, JLL, has been appointed Vice President of Construction.  In this capacity, Karapetyan-Broglin will manage the diverse selection of construction projects in Detroit, including the restoration of the storied Eddystone Hotel. “Detroit is a city with so much history and character,” Karapetyan-Broglin said. “I am looking forward to preserving those unique traits with steady, balanced and community-driven development that will build on the momentum we are seeing in the city.”

As a native Detroiter and principal with firms such as Pomeroy Living and PRS Equities, new Vice President of Development Stefan Stration brings more than two decades of local and national real estate development expertise across all asset classes and now leads the day-to-day efforts of the development team. “This is an exciting opportunity in an exciting city,” said Stration.  “I look forward to bringing new residential, business and retail opportunities to The District Detroit.”

All three executives will report to Keith Bradford, Senior Vice President of Development and The District Detroit.” As we further our efforts to help move our city forward, soliciting new ideas and seeking input from people across Detroit is a priority,” said Bradford  “These talented new hires — all of whom bring diverse expertise and proven track records — will have an important and active presence and voice in the collaborative dialogues we will be having with the community.”

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Larry Brinker, Jr., president of Detroit-based L.S. Brinker Company, is building a legacy and helping to create jobs and careers for Detroiters in collaboration with Olympia Development of Michigan. His company, founded by his father Larry Brinker, Sr. in 1989, includes several business units related to skilled trades. To date, the firm has contributed significant work to major projects in The District Detroit, including the innovative Little Caesars Arena, the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University, and the new Little Caesars world headquarters campus expansion.

Brinker, in a joint venture with The Christman Company, is currently managing historic renovation of the former Women’s City Club building and the mixed-used building at 2715 Woodward Avenue, located between Little Caesars Arena and the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University. Brinker business unit, Edgewood Electric, is also performing work at the former, historic Hotel Eddystone building near Little Caesars Arena.

Skilled trade professionals and apprentices who worked on Olympia Development-related Brinker projects have gone on to work at other significant Brinker projects, including the Ford Motor Co.’s Michigan Central Train project in Corktown, LinkedIn’s new Detroit office on Woodward Avenue and the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center.

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Al Avila, executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager of the Detroit Tigers, stopped by Columbia Street’s fast-casual Cuban-inspired eatery, Frita Batidos.

As Detroit’s passionate baseball fans know, the “Hot Stove” refers to the offseason, harkening back to a time when fans would gather on cold days around the hot stove to discuss their favorite team.  

And, as this offseason begins, Detroit Tigers Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, Al Avila, sat down around the “Hot Stove” for a candid conversation about the future of the team with Tigers radio play-by-play voice Dan Dickerson.  Al discussed the team’s offseason plans, touching on everything from tough roster decisions to a timeline for the franchise’s most highly touted pitching prospect.  As MLB’s first Cuban born General Manager, Al felt right at home in his first visit to The District Detroit’s newest, Cuban-inspired restaurant, Frita Batidos.

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Detroit continues to become a destination city for the very best in live entertainment, from concerts to theater to family-friendly events.  Building on that momentum, veteran sports and entertainment executive Howard Handler has been named the President of 313 Presents, a joint venture between Olympia Entertainment and Pistons Sports & Entertainment (PS&E). In this role, the metro Detroit native will advance the company’s commitment to providing the very best in diverse, world-class, live entertainment experiences for passionate fans, and venues of all sizes, in southeastern Michigan and beyond.

Handler will oversee the booking, production, marketing and business opportunities at Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, the Fox Theatre, DTE Energy Music Theatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre on the campus of Oakland University, and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill. He will report directly to the 313 Presents Board of Directors, comprised of executives from Ilitch Holdings, Inc., and Platinum Equity.  Handler will assume the leadership role from Tom Wilson, who has served as the Interim President of 313 Presents since its launch in late 2017.

“Detroit is a destination city for the best in live entertainment, offering world-class experiences for Detroiters and visitors alike,” said Arn Tellem, Vice Chairman of Pistons Sports & Entertainment.  “We are thrilled to welcome Howard as the President of 313 Presents, and to bring him back to his hometown.”

“Howard has a distinguished and proven track record in the sports and entertainment industry,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports & Entertainment of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “His experience in growing businesses, his creativity, and his passion for the consumer, along with his highly collaborative approach, will be a tremendous addition to 313 Presents and to the millions of fans of live entertainment in the metro Detroit market.”

Handler most recently served as President of h2 Advisors, a full-service consulting firm that included the XFL, ConsenSys — the world’s leading blockchain software development firm — and several leading sports media investors among his prominent past clients. From 2011-17, Handler was the Chief Marketing Officer for Major League Soccer (MLS), leading all strategic marketing, digital, content, data, events and communications during a period of unprecedented growth and transformation for the league. Handler also served as the Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales for The Madison Square Garden Company from 2009-11, where he led an innovative company-wide initiative to transform marketing and sales to a measurement-based and customer relationship-driven approach.

“I’m excited to join 313 Presents and return to my hometown of Detroit,” said Handler. “This city has come a long way, and this organization has made an impressive impact on the live entertainment landscape in two short years. I’m eager to build on that momentum and, through music and marquee events, help further add to the quality of life in Detroit.”

Tom Wilson, who led 313 Presents on an interim basis during the launch of the company, will transition into a President Emeritus role.  “Tom is an entertainment icon in this city.  From day one, he has helped steer 313 Presents and Olympia Entertainment to incredible heights with vision, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to Detroit,” said Granger.  “He has left an enduring mark, entertaining millions of live entertainment fans along the way, and we are happy to continue to lean on his expertise as we work to collectively expand our live offerings and provide even more memorable events, to more venues, to more fans in the future.”

For over half a century, we have been proud to call Detroit home.  What began 60 years ago as a small pizza shop is today a global organization comprised of leading brands in the food, sports and entertainment industries. We have had the privilege of serving Detroiters, Michiganders and customers the world over, and we recognize the importance of keeping them informed as we grow.

As the work across all our companies constantly evolves — from exciting gameday experiences to innovative pizza pick-up services to developments aimed at further revitalizing our city — we’ve set out to reimagine new ways to communicate relevant news with everyone who wants to hear from us. In that spirit, we are pleased to introduce the Ilitch Companies News Hub.

Consisting of breaking news, unique content and community impact stories, this hub will serve as a seamless and integrated source for the very latest information about our current and future endeavors. With content that is easily accessible, we designed the hub to complement our existing social media outreach as a way to connect with fans, Detroiters, visitors, vendors, colleagues, guests, media and beyond.

Whether you are a diehard Tigers or Red Wings fan, citizen following downtown Detroit developments, Crazy Bread lover, concert enthusiast, vendor, volunteer looking to participate with our non-profit organizations — or all of the above — here you will find stories that keep you connected, informed and engaged.

Amazing things are happening all around us.  We want to highlight the efforts, engagements, people and places that are playing a pivotal role in making it happen. Welcome to the Ilitch Companies News Hub. We hope you find it helpful, informative and enjoyable.

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Countless courageous associates lent their creative talents to transform ten hospital rooms at the Detroit Medical Center’s renowned Children Hospital of Michigan.  The result – accommodations that are distinctive, colorful and soothing – was inspiring.

The MotorCity Casino Hotel employee volunteer-based Helping Hands committee and the Wish Upon a Teen organization teamed up on Friday, Nov. 8 to makeover the rooms with a unique array of décor. The committee decorated the individual rooms in themes chosen and curated by the children, who drew inspiration from storybook characters to superheroes.

Wish Upon a Teen, which provides resources, time and opportunities to teenagers with severe life-limiting medical conditions, aims to help normalize their environment and rebuild their self-esteem using creative, social and educational opportunities as they transition to adulthood.

Organization founder Michelle Soto drew from her extensive background as a Child Life Specialist caring for children and teenagers at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA to launch the group in spring 2011.

Through this experience, she learned that the special needs of critically ill teens are often overlooked in the medical community.  That, coupled with normal teenage stressors and the impact of a severe life-altering medical condition or injury, can make the transition to adulthood extremely challenging.

Today, Wish Upon a Teen continues to provide ongoing support, age-appropriate programs and a variety of fun events to these brave teenagers throughout the United States.

The MotorCity Casino Hotel Helping Hands (MCCHHH) committee was formed in 2003 with the expressed intent of establishing the casino as a good community partner. The group is comprised of MCCH associates who guide and direct the company’s philanthropic resources, with support from the company’s ownership and executive leadership.

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IWG plc, the global leader in creative, flexible workspaces, announced today that they will be opening Spaces, an open and shared office concept, in the historic former Women’s City Club building in downtown Detroit. “As we continue to expand the Spaces portfolio, we see Detroit as a strong market for coworking,” said Michael Berretta, VP of Network Development for IWG, which owns Spaces. “Our modern coworking model will help local small business owners and entreprenuears innovate and create in a dynamic and unique work environment. We’re excited about Detroit and there is no question that our brand is a perfect fit for the community.”

Restoration of the historic Women’s City Club Building by Olympia Development, which will house the Spaces concept, will bring hundreds of new construction, office and retail jobs to The District Detroit. The revitalized building will ultimately be transformed into approximately 47,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of distinctive street-level retail. Detroit-based Kraemer Design Group is the leading architect for the $25 million restoration, while Detroit-based joint venture Brinker-Christman will serve as the project’s construction manager.

“Entrepreneurs and small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Keith Bradford, Senior Vice President of Olympia Development. “Offering a shared-office space concept in The District Detroit tailored to local business owners will help further drive the progress we are seeing throughout our city.”

To learn more, we invite you to visit spacesworks.com.

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For Little Caesars employee Lisa Ruthven, operating the Little Caesars Love Kitchen is not just about giving back to the community, but also a way to honor her father’s legacy of feeding the homeless and supporting those struggling with hardships.

In 2013, Lisa’s family was dealing with their own struggles when her father, Doug Ruthven, passed away at age 59. Doug, who had managed the Little Caesars Love Kitchen as it crisscrossed the United States for 21 years, left behind many memories for those who knew him best.

“It’s so fun to hear the stories now,” Lisa said, “of all the great times that my dad had with friends he made, Little Caesars franchisees across the country and the people he served.”

Doug was the glue that held the program together, and today it’s his daughter who coordinates the Love Kitchen and the program’s two trucks as they serve those in need across the country.

“It’s incredible, with so many people who are struggling, just to see their faces and their smiles, Lisa said. “To know that a company as large as Little Caesars is giving back to those who are struggling, it really brightens up their day.”

Founded in 1985, the Little Caesars Love Kitchen, a mobile 18-wheel truck, partners with local food pantries and community organizations, traveling town-to-town to serve hot pizza to those in need at no cost. Since its inception, nearly 3.5 million people have been served, including more than 100,000 people in 2018 alone.

In addition to supporting the hungry and homeless, the Love Kitchen has provided relief to hundreds of thousands of victims and rescue workers of disasters, such as wildfires in California, multiple hurricanes, including Katrina and Harvey, as well as the 2001 World Trade Center Attack and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. In 2018, the Love Kitchen completed a serving nearly every day of the year.

The Little Caesars Love Kitchen has been recognized for its charitable efforts, receiving multiple presidential citations from former Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. In addition, the Love Kitchen has received a certificate of appreciation from the State of Michigan, and was recognized by the Detroit City Council for its efforts in the Gulf Coast region, as well as countless local recognitions across the United States.

Little Caesars now has two full-size semi-trucks in operation to serve the continental U.S. from coast to coast.  Franchise owners and company stores graciously donate the food and provide the volunteers necessary to make each Love Kitchen serving a success. An estimated 50,000 franchisees, their employees and corporate colleagues have volunteered over the years to support the program in their local communities.

Little Caesars Love Kitchen will return to its hometown of Detroit in February 2020, when it will partner with Mitch Albom’s SAY Detroit, Michigan Veteran’s Foundation, Detroit Rescue Ministries and soup kitchens throughout the city to support those in need.

To learn more, you can visit https://littlecaesars.com/en-us/giving-back/love-kitchen/.

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When Detroit visionaries and Little Caesars co-founders Mike and Marian Ilitch purchased the Fox Theatre building in 1987, it was not only for their new corporate headquarters; it was to carry out a vision to restore the theater to its original splendor and make the venue a destination for Detroiters and visitors worldwide.  

The historic renovation of the Fox Theatre in 1988 was later fortified by a National Historic Landmark designation the following year, in 1989.  

Now three decades strong, the restored Fox Theatre remains home to world-class companies operated by Little Caesars parent company, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. The building most recently has grown to offer new, street-level retail options, including the largest Starbucks on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit.  

The national coffee chain is joined by the second location of the award-winning Cuban-inspired restaurant, Frita Batidos—located along the adjacent Columbia Street retail destination. Both outposts debuted in September.  

When the historic $12.5 million restoration project was completed, it brought to life 5,048 seats covering 1.5 acres and gave way to the venue becoming the largest surviving movie palace in the United States. The Fox Theatre’s unique features has made it an attractive option for companies and organizations hosting events, including the recent U.S. Democratic presidential debates in July 2019.

The subsequent decision to move the Little Caesars home from the suburb of Farmington Hills marked the first time a corporate headquarters moved to the city of Detroit in 27 years. Today, the rapidly growing global pizza chain continues to anchor the Central Business District and has expanded its headquarters into an additional state-of-the-art building across Columbia Street, just feet away. The new 235,000-square-foot, Michigan-Made building more than doubles the size of its current headquarters at the Fox Office Building to accommodate the company’s rapid global growth, including expansions to new countries, such as the Philippines, in 2019.  

The theatre, a masterpiece of Art Deco theater design and the work of self-taught architect C. Howard Crane, was the largest of a circuit of theaters built around the nation by Hungarian-American film entrepreneur William Fox. The mogul broke ground in Detroit in March 1927 and completed the building in 18 months— at a cost of over $6 million.  

William Fox’s wife, Eva Leo Fox, held a prominent role in shaping the building’s interior:  she is credited for the lavish décor, ambiance and atmosphere of the theater’s interior—an exuberant blend of Burmese, Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Mexican and Persian architectural styles.  

These efforts over the last 30 years have been reported to have played an “indispensable role” in Detroit’s revival and will continue to play a role in the growth of The District Detroit urban destination for years to come.  

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