Espresso Bar Chez-Zara Opens Flagship Store in Rock Ventures' M@dison Building in Downtown Detroit

DETROIT, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Excitement in downtown Detroit is brewing as Chez-Zara, a local espresso bar, today announced it is open for business in the M@dison Building, located at 1555 Broadway Street, in the heart of the city's growing entrepreneurial hub.

The Detroit-based company, which offers coffee the way it was meant to be experienced – traditionally, affordably, and passionately, will offer espresso drinks, organic teas, and pastries from Detroit's Avalon bakery from its 900 square-foot flagship store on the ground floor of the Rock Ventures-owned M@dison Building.

"The M@dison is the perfect fit for Chez-Zara because the building is literally buzzing with activity day and night," said Mallak Beydoun, owner of Chez-Zara. "When we saw so many inspiring people in the M@dison Building looking to build something special and grow in this region, we knew we found the perfect spot for our flagship location."

Rock Ventures, the umbrella entity formed to provide operational coordination, guidance, and integration of Dan Gilbert's portfolio of companies, investments and real estate, purchased the abandoned Madison Theatre in January 2011. Originally designed by C. Howard Crane and constructed in 1917, the 55,000-square-foot, five-story building underwent extensive renovations.  Today, the M@dison is a collaborative tech hub that houses more than 25 promising digital start-ups and creative companies, with retail on the first floor.  M@dison opened in October 2011 and is now 100 percent full with more than 125 people working in the building.

Chez-Zara worked with fellow M@dison Building tenant Doodle Home, a web-based platform for interior designers, to procure the furniture and fixtures and transform the location into a chic, modern space, offering WiFi, comfortable seating and an outdoor patio.

Chez-Zara's lease was brokered by Bedrock Real Estate Services LLC, Rock Ventures' full service real estate firm, specializing in purchasing, leasing, financing, developing and managing commercial space.

"Building a thriving urban core involves recruiting dynamic businesses to meet the needs of the community, so we're excited to have Chez-Zara open in the M@dison building," said Matt Cullen, President and CEO of Rock Ventures. "In any other large city Chez-Zara would be another independent coffee shop competing to succeed, but in downtown Detroit, the company has the opportunity to truly take off."

Chez-Zara has been operating a mobile location in the lobby of the Rock Ventures-owned Chase Tower Building since early 2012. The company will employ a team of three at the M@dison Building, and will open at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends.

Chez-Zara also caters events, participates in fundraising efforts, and delivers to coffee lovers in the M@dison, Compuware and Chase buildings in downtown Detroit. For more information about Chez-Zara, please visit www.chez-zara.com.

About Chez Zara
Chez-Zara, a full-service espresso bar in Detroit that specializes in exceptional espresso drinks and organic teas, has locations in the M@dison and Chase Tower buildings in downtown Detroit. The company provides coffee the way it was meant to be experienced – traditionally, affordably, and passionately. In addition to its store locations, Chez-Zara also caters events, participates in fundraising efforts, and delivers to the M@dison, Compuware and Chase buildings. For more information about Chez-Zara, please visit www.chez-zara.com.

About Rock Ventures LLC
Rock Ventures LLC is an umbrella entity formed to provide operational coordination, guidance, and integration of Dan Gilbert's portfolio of companies, investments and real estate.

About Bedrock Real Estate Services LLC
Bedrock Real Estate Services LLC is a full service property management firm specializing in purchasing, leasing, financing, developing and managing of commercial space. The company, a partnership between Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert and veteran real estate developer Jim Ketai, is based in downtown Detroit. For more information, visit www.bedrockmgt.com.

** Note to Editors:  Since August 2010, more than 60 companies have moved to downtown Detroit in a number of Rock Ventures-owned buildings. See below for company listing and click HERE to view Rock Ventures' Detroit 2.0 Chronology in the Quicken Loans press room.

Companies that have joined Rock Ventures in
Downtown Detroit since August 2010

To date, more than 60 companies have moved to downtown Detroit in a number of Rock Ventures-owned buildings. These businesses include:

M@dison Building (100 percent occupied):

• Are You a Human: The answer to frustrating CAPTCHA entries, Are You a Human uses fun games to verify the authenticity of people completing online forms
• Aria Ventures: A company specializing in developing and funding startup ventures
• Bizdom: A non-profit entrepreneurship accelerator for budding web and tech-based startups in Detroit and Cleveland (Bizdom Detroit was previously housed in Wayne State University's Tech Town)
• Detroit Labs: A leader in the development of Android, iOS and web-based applications
• Detroit Venture Partners (DVP):  A venture capital firm specializing in funding early stage technology businesses
• Chez-Zara: A full-service espresso bar that specializes in exceptional espresso drinks and organic teas
• Doodle Home: An online interior design destination serving customers, designers and manufacturers of luxury home furnishings
• EBLI: A proprietary system that teaches people of any age and skill level to read to their highest potential
• Exxodus Pictures: A production company whose first feature film, Jinn, is now in post-production
• Facility Matrix Group (FMG):  The area's pre-eminent provider of office furniture
• GreenLancer: Web-based company that provides businesses a model for cutting development and engineering costs in clean energy projects
• GumShoe: A game where players compete against friends and a community of sleuths to solve mysteries, and earn awards, social cred and the occasional real life cache along the way
• hiredMYway : A company disrupting the traditional "job board" concept that provides an exceptionally better value and experience for both job seekers and employers
• Ludlow Ventures: An angel and seed-stage venture capital firm investing in web and digital technologies
• Marxent Labs: Creator of ShopWith.It, a new app for social shoppers that makes it easy to take your Facebook friends shopping
• Quikkly: Short-term deals exclusively for college students
• Roqbot: A social jukebox app that lets you be the DJ at your favorite bars, restaurants, gyms, and stores
• Savorfull: Monthly samples of allergy free, nutrient dense foods, delivered right to your doorstep
• Skidmore Studio: A leading creative design firm occupying an entire floor in the building
• Tapjoy:  A mobile ad network that lets you discover apps and get in-app rewards when you engage with ads
• TextFromLastNight (Detroit office): An accidental startup born out of a viral sensation, now one of the leading user-generated content sites for 20-somethings
• Thrillist Detroit: Free daily email that finds the best of what's new in your neighborhood and on the web
• Twitter: A real-time information network that connects people to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news
• UpTo: A new social platform focused on the future tense, allowing users to easily share calendar events
• Vineyard Capital: An investment firm for later-stage private companies, partnering with various groups throughout the Midwest
• Wedit: A fun, easy, and affordable way to capture, edit, and share wedding memories through the use of HD Flip cameras
• 313 Ventures: Stock trader-turned-angel investor, partaking in the rebuild of Detroit, one deal at a time

Chrysler House (Former Dime Building; 92 percent occupied):

• Allied Printing Company: Provides printing, information management, and warehouse & fulfillment services
• Campus Commandos: Connects clients with the college demographic through the use of student brand ambassadors
• Chrysler Group LLC: Automotive company that produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products
• Corby Energy: Providing construction, engineering and support services to utilities and related businesses
• Core Merchant: Easy and convenient credit payment solutions for businesses
• Elite Fire Safety: A one-stop-shop for fire safety needs
• EverStaff: Recruits the most skilled and qualified professionals for organizations of all sizes
• FNC Holding Company: Provides insight into the property backing a loan with its data and analytic solutions
• GSI: A company specializing in security, network and system integration
• Hubbard Snitchler & Parzianello PLC: Provides world-class legal service
• Just Baked: Specialty cupcake shop and bakery
• Metro Consulting:  A full service civil engineering and land surveying consultancy
• Professional Movers.com: Moving company that specializes in providing local, long distance, and international relocation services for people and businesses
• Rehmann: A company offering accounting, tax planning and financial consulting services
• Reliance One: A full service staffing firm
• SCI Marketview: A lead management company for automotive dealers
• Quicken Loans: The nation's largest online mortgage lender

Chase Tower (100 percent occupied):

• In-House Realty: A real estate services company matching Quicken Loans clients with pre-screened agents in their community
• One Reverse Mortgage: The largest reverse-only mortgage lender in America and second largest retail provider of reverse mortgage home loans
• Quicken Loans: The nation's largest online mortgage lender

First National Building (93 percent occupied):

• Aerotek: A leading staffing agency that matches qualified candidates with top companies worldwide
• Roasting Plant:  New York-based coffee company with unique Javabot roasting technology
• Title Source: The largest independent provider of title insurance, property valuations and settlement services in the nation.

Compuware (Rock Ventures leases four floors; 100 percent occupied):

• Bedrock Real Estate Services: Rock Ventures' full service property management firm, specializing in purchasing, leasing, financing, developing and managing of commercial space
• Cup of Zup: Uniquely amusing pop-culture e-newsletter and website
• Fathead: The Real.Big. brand of officially licensed sports and entertainment graphics products
• Picket Report: An online neighborhood research tool
• Quicken Loans: The nation's largest online mortgage lender
• Quizzle: Website that gives consumers a complete understanding of their credit so they can make better financial decisions
• Rockbridge Growth Equity: A Detroit-based private equity firm that invests in mid-stage financial and business services, consumer-direct marketing, and sports, media & entertainment industries
• Rock Companies: A real estate investment, development, construction and management company focusing on commercial, residential single and multi-family investments in Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio
• Rock Gaming: A gaming partnership formed with an initial focus to develop full-service casinos in two of Ohio's largest cities, as well as to explore other potential gaming opportunities elsewhere
• Rock Ventures: An umbrella entity formed to provide operational coordination, guidance, and integration of Dan Gilbert's portfolio of companies, investments and real estate

SOURCE Rock Ventures LLC