After the Salute Awards ceremony concludes, join us for an unforgettable evening at Toast of the Town. Discover the entrepreneurs and innovators that make our community so special — from food and shopping to tech startups and our building community. Learn more about the featured businesses below. With your ticket purchase, you are uplifting these innovative entrepreneurs and accelerating a more equitable Detroit.
Eat, Shop & Experience
AT TOAST OF THE TOWN
Eat, shop and experience the best of Detroit's entrepreneurs at the 2024 Toast of the Town!
Eat
Alma Kitchen (Learn more)
Alma Kitchen celebrates diversity through fresh, innovative and locally sourced options, inspired by its founders’ heritages and experiences in the Detroit area. The establishment proudly offers a wide array of culinary styles.
Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails (Learn more)
Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails fosters a positive atmosphere by supporting local farmers and foragers, showcasing their quality ingredients through the craftsmanship of talented chefs.
Da Bomb Taco (Learn more)
Da Bomb Taco combines authentic Mexican flavors with expert craftsmanship, and genuine hospitality to provide an experience that is guaranteed to blow customers away.
El Asador Steakhouse (Learn more)
El Asador Steakhouse takes a unique approach to Mexican cuisine, making each dish from scratch and believing that good food should be treated with awe and love. The restaurant is committed to local sourcing, and has a Halal certification, to ensure all customers feel welcome and valued.
Khana (Learn more)
Khana offers traditional Pakistani and Desi recipes that are elevated and altered for unique flavors. Committed to 100% Halal standards, they also provide vegan options to delight every palate.
Paradise Street Eats & Biryani (Learn more)
Paradise Street Eats & Biryani is an Indian fusion restaurant, blending authentic Indian flavors to create an inclusive cuisine for American taste palates. Committed to 100% Halal standards and offering vegan and gluten-free options, their mission is to integrate Indian cuisine into mainstream culture through food trucks, restaurants and home delivery.
Patchwork Culinary Project (Learn more)
Patchwork Culinary Project is a nationally recognized, 501(c)(3) nonprofit restaurant and education program that provides culinary training to immigrants and refugees in metro Detroit. Its mission is to help individuals pursue careers in food service or start their own businesses in the hospitality industry while showcasing their national recipes and products.
Plenti Pastas + More (Learn more)
Plenti Pastas Plus + More aims to provide clients with an elevated culinary experience through luxury full-service catering, private chef services and food by the pan. They also offer a new food truck to expand their service options.
Sepia Coffee Project (Learn more)
Established in Highland Park in 2021, Sepia Coffee Project is a Black-led roastery based in Detroit’s North End. They roast specialty-grade coffee sourced from smallholder farmers across Africa, the Americas and Indian-Pacific regions.
UDrinkIMake (Learn more)
U Drink I Make is recognized as an innovator with experience in the bartending industry since 2005. Their expertise includes extensive mixology, menu consulting and original recipe creation.
Waka by Baobab Fare (Learn more)
Waka by Baobab Fare began as a street food venture with pop-ups, emphasizing the integral role of street food in African culture. The Waka food truck was created to bring East African street food to metro Detroit, while Baobab Fare serves as an East African restaurant and market rooted in the city.
Experience
BeautyGoGO (Learn more)
At BeautyGoGO, the goal is to make hair and beauty products more accessible while providing the best experience possible. Their easy-to-use app allows consumers to shop for their favorite products from local stores, with convenient delivery and pickup options for quick access to all hair and beauty needs
Alina’s Marketing, LLC (Learn more)
Bollywood High Tea celebrates the vibrant culture of afternoon and high tea from the Indian subcontinent. This collaboration between Foodiesnapper and Paradise Street Eats & Biryani highlights the power of a warm cup of karak chai, accompanied by sweet and savory treats, to foster community through a desi-style high tea experience.
City Institute (Learn more)
City Institute offers a deeper understanding of Detroit’s assets, history and challenges, equipping residents and stakeholders to shape an equitable and thriving city. Globally, it helps other cities learn to tell their stories to attract and retain talent, engage residents, promote small businesses and build equitable communities.
Deaf Assistant (Learn more)
BeAware’s Deaf Assistant app focuses on inclusion and accessibility, aiming to make everyday actions easier for deaf individuals. The app is free and open-source and encourages community input and support to continually improve its features.
Detroit Future City (Learn more)
Detroit Future City (DFC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 to implement the Detroit Strategic Framework, a 50-year vision for the city developed with input from over 100,000 residents. DFC focuses on creating a more equitable and sustainable city by providing accessible information, guiding decision-makers and convening stakeholders to align their efforts.
Localsine (Learn more)
At Localsine, the belief is that ordering meals for professional businesses should be easy and accessible, transforming mealtime into a delicious adventure that supports the local community. Its founders have created a marketplace to connect businesses to culinary gems in their neighborhoods, fostering team connection around fresh, vibrant flavors.
Math 4 Success (Learn more)
Math 4 Success is a professional educational service provider dedicated to delivering quality, flexible and affordable educational services to all students. Their goal is to empower excellence and confidence in every student, believing that success should be accessible to all, regardless of background or ZIP code.
NXT Level Fitness/Rep Reserve (Learn more)
NXT Level Fitness/Rep Reserve is a one-stop shop for all things fitness. They offer personal amd group training, yoga, community and corporate wellness and more.
Outlier Media (Learn more)
Outlier Media is a groundbreaking nonprofit newsroom focused on addressing the needs of Detroiters. By utilizing original methods and tools to identify information gaps and systemic failures, they aim to democratize information and redistribute power, fostering a vision of a liberated city with strong civic infrastructure rooted in community participation and self-determination.
Spanish S.W.A.G. (Learn more)
Spanish S.W.A.G. is a self-regulated method designed to help learners develop a near-native pronunciation while communicating in the target language. Fueled by #wokelingualism, this tool emphasizes awareness of pronunciation and diction. The acronym S.W.A.G. represents “Speak like a native,” “Woke,” “Accents matter,” and “Grammar,” serving as an accountability tool to empower bilingual youth and close the opportunity gap.
TripSlip (Learn more)
TripSlip helps to solve paper problems with digital solutions, from contact tracing to paper-less permission slips and everything in between.
Shop
Amarra Products / G.L.A.M. Body Scrubs (Learn more)
Amarra Products, the creator of G.L.A.M. Body Scrubs, is a certified women-owned and minority-owned business, dedicated to eco- and skin-friendly products free from preservatives, SLS, mineral oil, parabens, phthalates and animal testing. Committed to positive change, the company aims to provide employment opportunities, mentorship and hope, to underprivileged and underserved inner–city communities.
Busted Bra Shop (Learn more)
Busted Bra Shop is a custom–fit bra boutique with a flagship store in Detroit and four other locations across Michigan and Illinois. The store specializes in women’s lingerie, clothing, underwear and maternity and nursing clothing.
El Popo Market (Learn more)
Originally from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Raquel and Rodolfo Lozano initially planned to open a vegan soup and salad bar in Detroit. However, during the pandemic, they quickly adapted by creating a mini boutique featuring a variety of accessories from Mexico.
Mature (Learn more)
Mature is a premier lifestyle clothier based in Detroit and founded in 2017. Positivity, style and attractive character are the core values of Mature. Their unique blend of contemporary causal and modern upscale attire speaks confidence and distinguished style.
Midcio (Learn more)
Midcio, which stands for “made in Detroit, created in Oakland,” aims to improve the homes of people of color so they can thrive. This Detroit-based business crafts sustainable, culturally rich home decor in collaboration with Black and brown artists.
Old Soul Vintage (Learn more)
Old Soul specializes in buying and selling vintage clothing, accessories and products from the 1900s to the 1990s. They are dedicated to creating an experience for their customers by providing clothes with a soul and story sewn in every stitch.
Serenityy the Brand (Learn more)
Serenityy the Brand is a Black-owned, women-owned jewelry boutique that offers handmade jewelry with a purpose. Each piece is crafted
Event Floorplan
