Bohomodern's Barry among Finalists for $50K Grant

Comerica's Hatch Detroit contest announced its 10 semifinalists today. The winner of the competition, co-sponsored by Opportunity Detroit, will take home $50,000 in grant money to help them create or sustain a brick-and-mortar business in the Motor City. One of the chosen ten, Bohomodern, is a clothing, furniture and home decor shop and the lifelong dream of proprietor Margarita Barry whose investment in the city goes beyond business—a lifelong city resident, she bought a northwest Detroit home at a county auction in 2011 and has been restoring it ever since. Barry, also instrumental in creating pop-up retail in the Sugar Hill arts district, began working on Bohomodern in 2009.

Barry custom designs most of the objects on sale at Bohomodern, including posters, tableware, pillows, and clothes. She tells Curbed that she's particularly inspired by "themes local to Detroit." Her business is a family affair—her mother, a local seamstress—makes the clothing for Barry's line. Barry, a working mother to 2-year-old daughter Posey also dedicates time to community projects, helping create pop-up shops in underutilized spaces.

The other semifinalists include:
·House of Pure Vin
·Live Cycle Delight
·MOR & Co
·Motor City Meatball Kitchen
·Norma G's
·Orleans + Winder
·The Royce Detroit

The public will choose the winner via online voting hatchdetroit.com, starting August 15 at midnight. Hatch Detroit will announce the winner on Aug. 28, after a final, furious round of presentations by the top four contenders at Detroit's Madison Building.

·Margarita Barry's New Home: An Under $10K Auction Score! [Curbed Detroit]
·10 Retail and Food Startups Announced as Semifinalists [Crain's Detroit Business]
·Hatch Detroit [Hatch Detroit]
·Norma G's Caribbean Food Truck Rolls into Detroit [Detroit Eater]