DETROIT / September 27, 2012 – Hatch Detroit today announced La Feria as the winner of the 2012 Comerica Hatch Detroit contest, earning the wine bar the top prize of $50,000 from Comerica Bank.
La Feria, featuring authentic Spanish tapas will open in 2013 in Midtown, introducing Detroiters to a Spanish dining experience under head chef and Spanish native Pilar Baron Hidalgo. Owners Elias Khalil, Naomi Khalil and Hidalgo are excited to bring Detroit its first Spanish tapas restaurant and bar located at 4130 Cass Ave in the heart of Detroit’s Cass Corridor. The interior will transport guests to southern Spain, replicating the winding street of Seville. The restaurant will seat 35 with plans for a patio that will add seating for 16 more.
In addition to the $50,000 from Comerica, La Feria will also receive a number of in-kind prizes including:
• environmental assessment services from PM Environmental;
• interior design guidance from Andrea Leigh Davis;
• legal services from Honigman, Miller, Schwartz and Cohn LLP;
• design and branding services from Team Detroit; and
• IT services from Strategic Staffing Solutions.
“The number of businesses that participated and the voting response for this year’s competition has been tremendous,” said Nick Gorga, co-founder of Hatch Detroit. “We had strong momentum throughout the competition that started with more than 250 submissions and continued through today’s announcement of our winner, La Feria. All of these companies make a significant impact on this region and we’ve been proud to shine a spotlight on these entrepreneurs.”
“The same creativity and passion we’ve seen throughout the contest is what continues to revitalize the retail environment in Detroit,” said Thomas D. Ogden, president, Comerica Bank-Michigan. “Detroit is becoming the place to be for entrepreneurs and Comerica is proud to be investing in its future.”
More than 10,000 total votes were cast in the contest’s final three days of voting to determine the winner, bringing the total number of votes cast in the contest to more than 40,000.
To learn more about Comerica Hatch Detroit and La Feria, visit www.hatchdetroit.com.
Hatch Detroit is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) organization that champions and supports independent retail businesses in Detroit through funding contests, education, exposure, and mentoring. Hatch Detroit was co-founded by Nick Gorga and Ted Balowski, metro Detroit natives who are passionate about the revitalization of the city and inspiring others in the community to create change.
Comerica Bank, with 218 banking centers in Michigan, is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated. Comerica made a $17 million investment in Detroit with the renovation of its building at 411 W. Lafayette, which has been renamed Comerica Bank Center and is now the bank’s Michigan Market headquarters. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Business Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. To find Comerica on Facebook, please visit www.facebook.com/ComericaCares. Follow Comerica on Twitter at @ComericaCares.
Hatch Detroit Media Contact
Vittoria Katanski
(248) 766-6485
vittoria@hatchdetroit.com
Comerica Media Contact
Kathleen Pitton
(313) 584-4523
kapitton@comerica.com
Alternate Media Contact
Sara Bloomberg
(313) 567-5016
bloomberg@franco.com
