Thursday, January 3, 2013
Food writer Molly Abraham says classic American comfort food shines in Curt Catallo's Vinsetta Garage in Berkley.
Molly Abraham, food columnist for The Detroit News, wants readers to challenge their dining status quo in 2013, and a restaurant by Old Fenton Fire Hall developer Curt Catallo made her list of restaurants to check out. Vinsetta Garage, located on Woodward Ave. in Berkley, made Abraham's list of 13 metro Detroit restaurants to try in the coming year. "In addition to it dishing up one of the best interpretations of mac and cheese in this town or any other," Abraham wrote, "the restaurant in the former car repair shop has a lot to offer with its menu of American comfort food." Vinsetta Garage is the newest restaurant from Curt Catallo, who is also the owner of the famous Union Woodshop in Clarkston, and is in the process of developing the Old…
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Fenton Downtown Development Authority will amend the lease delay the opening date deadline by two months.
Fenton residents have waited a long time for the old Fenton Fire Hall to be morphed into a restaurant and have the doors opened. Now, they might have to wait just a bit longer. With changes in the construction and expansions planned for the building, Clarkston Union owner Curt Catallo asked the Fenton Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to push back the opening date from April 30, 2013 to June 30, 2013. Catallo said it might not be possible to begin the foundations and outdoor work for the project until the season changes. The DDA approved the lease amendment at its meeting Tuesday. Catallo said the restaurant might be open before June 30. The group also accepted a quit claim deed for two parcels of city property that are needed for …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Clarkston Union owner Curt Catallo is recipient of Quality People/Quality County Award.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson honored Oakland County residents with his annual Quality People/Quality County Awards this week for their efforts to improve the quality of life of others. Clarkston Union owner and old Fenton Fire Hall developer Curt Catallo was among the winners. Here is the description of why Catallo won the award. "Catallo’s achievements are nothing less than exceptional. By day, he is an ad agency executive; by night, he is a popular restaurateur whose endeavors have put Oakland County on the culinary map. He is the founder of Union Ad Works whose major client is Chrysler. However, Catallo may be best known throughout the region for his unique restaurants which serve his variations on comfort food such as …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The good news is, the DDA will receive funding, consultant says.
Changes by the U.S. Congress in federal Transportation Enhancement Program grant funding will mean a five- to six-month delay for the Fenton Downtown Development Authority’s Streetscape project. The amount of the grant, which the Michigan Department of Transportation is handling, is still is to be confirmed, but it will help the project significantly, says DDA Director Michael Burns. Timothy Juidici, an engineering consultant for Fenton from OHM, said U.S. Congress has reauthorized the grant program, which it has done annually since the fund expired five years ago. But in this year’s bill, Congress has combined the transportation funding with Safe Roads to School and a recreational trail fund. MDOT is learning how the program works, he …
42.79687
-83.70482
The State Bank
101 N Leroy St, Fenton, MI
The Cornerstone project is planned on the former Republic Bank site, across LeRoy Street from The State Bank in downtown Fenton.
/articles/changes-in-grant-program-mean-5-6-month-delay-for-fenton-s-streetscape
1549181
/locations/8180905
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Site plans will soon go to Fenton's Planning Commission, construction expected to start soon after.
For those waiting to see some progress on the old Fenton Fire Hall, that day is coming soon. Site plans were submitted to city officials Oct. 1 and should be discussed by the Planning Commission in the next couple weeks, according to Fenton Assistant City Manager and Downtown Development Authority Director Michael Burns. Once the plans are approved, Clarkston Union owner Curt Catallo said crews will be ready to start working. “Once the site plan goes through, we will do a little cleaning within and start working on the foundation,” he said. “We are right on schedule.” There is one major change in the plans for the new restaurant. Catallo said crews will install a low-impact addition in the side of the building to house an elevator and …
42.795068
-83.704811
201 S Leroy St, Fenton, MI
Old Fenton Fire Hall
/articles/clarkston-union-owners-moving-towards-construction-at-old-fenton-fire-hall
/locations/8081715
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The DDA will provide $100,000 financial incentive and a lease of $1 per year for five years.
The Fenton Downtown Development Authority (DDA) unanimously approved a lease agreement with the owners of the Clarkston Union owners Tuesday to allow them to renovate the old Fenton Fire Hall. The DDA will provide the Clarkston Union owners with a $100,000 financial incentive, said DDA Director Michael Burns. It will be the last money invested in the building, he added. The Clarkston Union owners will have the option of purchasing the building for $1 after five years. The lease on the building, annually, is $1, Burns said. This is different from the DDA's lease with Michigan Brewing Company, which the DDA terminated. Michigan Brewing Company had a seven-year lease to purchase agreement with the DDA, and a $400,000 financial incentive, said…
42.795068
-83.704811
201 S Leroy St, Fenton, MI
Old Fenton Fire Hall
/articles/fenton-dda-approves-lease-for-clarkston-union-owners-to-renovate-old-fenton-fire-hall
/locations/7439632
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
They want to open in seven to eight months; DDA chairman says project will link North LeRoy Street to Dibbleville.
When Fenton officials opened the Clarkston Union owners bids, Fenton Downtown Development Authority Director Michael Burns said it smelled like hickory. "We were convinced they stuck their bids in the smoker before they got here. (Catallo) denies it," Burns said. "Everything they've done has been A-1." The business partners for the planned Fenton Fire Hall restaurant, Ann Stevenson and Curt Catallo, owners of Clarkston Union, greeted the community at a press conference on the site of their future project Tuesday evening. A member of the audience said now they are known as "Curt and Ann of Clarkston Union," but in five years, they'll be "Curt and Ann of the Fenton Fire Hall." Against the backdrop of a 1930 fire engine owned by Fenton's …
42.795068
-83.704811
201 S Leroy St, Fenton, MI
Old Fenton Fire Hall
/articles/clarkston-union-owners-excited-about-old-fire-hall-project-in-fenton
/locations/7272814
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Plan calls for outdoor seating, 60 beers on tap and and open fire pit in the kitchen.
The old Fenton Fire Hall will change hands, but will not likely change names. The Fenton DDA selected Clarkston Union owners Curt Catallo and Ann Stevenson to renovate the old Fenton Fire Hall Tuesday and Catallo said the name will likely stick. "The Fenton Fire Hall name was decided when it was carved into the facade nearly 100 years ago," Catallo said. "You do not mess with that. It was decided when the first stone was laid." The Clarkston Union owners were selected over the other finalist Arbor Brewing Company owners Matt and Rene Greff. Fenton's DDA voted unanimously on Tuesday in favor of Clarkston Union. The DDA will provide Clarkston Union with a $100,000 financial incentive for leasehold improvements, said DDA Director Michael …
42.795068
-83.704811
201 S Leroy St, Fenton, MI
Old Fenton Fire Hall
/articles/fenton-dda-selects-clarkston-union-owners-for-old-fenton-fire-hall
/locations/7275094
Read more about the old Fenton Fire Hall Developments on Fenton Patch and stay tuned tonight for full coverage of the decision.
Committee to make recommendation to DDA between owners of the Clarkston Union and Arbor Brewing Company.
It's decision time for the Fenton Downtown Development Authority. The Old Fenton Fire Hall Selection Committee consisting of DDA member Tom Bertschy, DDA Vice Chairman Jim Saule and DDA member Doug James are expected to meet in a closed executive session for a final review of the proposals at 10 a.m. Tuesday and then will make a recommendation to the DDA during its meeting at 6 p.m. later that night when the DDA is expected to vote for the winner from the candidates Clarkston Union Owners Curt Catallo and Ann Stevenson and Arbor Brewing Company owners Matt and Rene Greff. “They both have been great to work with. I wish the DDA had two buildings to give,” DDA Director Michael Burns said. “They are solid people with solid reputations and …
42.795068
-83.704811
201 S Leroy St, Fenton, MI
Old Fenton Fire Hall
/articles/dda-expected-to-choose-old-fenton-fire-hall-developer-tuesday-night-04d7c839
/locations/7243641
Corinna Mueller Daunt
11:25 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
So exciting. I wonder if parking will be ok. more ›