Kate Manville-Schwartz and her husband Matt have transformed a corner of their town boulevard into the vibrant and expansive Choate Marketplace in Brooklyn. This creative hub is more than you’d imagine from the outside; designed to offer bold, creative and rich artisan experiences, you can find Choate Marketplace in southeastern Michigan.

Choate Marketplace is jam-packed with a diverse array of boutiques and experiences, each with its own unique name like Nibs and Nozzles, for shopping art supplies, and Mountain Nan, for shopping fair trade and folk crafts. Visitors can paint pottery, shop artisan goods, try unique flavors, view artist exhibitions, work remotely in a dedicated space, or enjoy complementary hot tea from the cafe. Plus the newly opened upstairs venue is a testament to the ongoing growth and expansion of the marketplace.

“This wasn’t something that there really was a clear template for in this town,” said Kate. “It was hard to know what our cash flow would be, what our customer base would look like, and how often they would come back.”

Kate connected with the Michigan SBDC and Greater Washtenaw Region Associate Regional Director Shawn Preissle through a personal referral, and sought guidance to navigate the complexities of the ambitious vision. 

“Working with the Michigan SBDC was really helpful from the beginning with Shawn,” Kate explained. “I’ve used her a lot, and I’ve referred people not just to the Michigan SBDC but to her specifically because we’ve built a really great relationship.”

Shawn, who has been with the Michigan SBDC for 10 years and was previously a small business owner herself, recognized Kate’s passion. “Kate had a great vision for her company,” Shawn said. “The part that she needed the most assistance with was understanding sales projections and cash flow; just understanding what the break-even point was. Once we determined that, she knew that she would be successful, so it gave her the confidence to continue down the path to open her business.”

Kate particularly appreciated the financial support provided by Shawn and the Michigan SBDC. “The biggest support that I got was all the spreadsheets that banks want to see,” she shared. “That is not my area of genius. So to have a spreadsheet devised for me that someone’s going to look at and be able to understand – and frankly respect – was a service that was incredibly helpful to me.”

Beyond the diverse offerings, Choate Marketplace is a place where every corner tells a story. From the unique 3D tapestry and featured artist exhibitions to the beloved resident rabbit, Frankie – who is soon to have his own book – the marketplace is full of delightful surprises. It is truly a destination.

“The best thing about working for the Michigan Small Business Development Center is when we find clients like Kate who have the passion to start a business, but also the willingness to do the hard work to be able to be successful,” Shawn remarked.

Kate shared, “I feel so proud of what we’ve created, and I just want to maintain these experiences for the general public and help them to have a good experience in Brooklyn and with the arts. I really hope folks make it a destination, because when you come here, there’s enough to do for a whole day. Thank you to the Michigan SBDC for getting me started, and for getting me all the assets I needed to present so that I could get on this journey officially.” 

For those seeking a unique and enriching experience, Choate Marketplace stands as a testament to the power of vision, hard work and the invaluable support of the Michigan SBDC.