The Aapricity Podcast

Interviews with Entrepreneurs and Innovators in the Ann Arbor Area

Episode 6: Mark Hodesh - Downtown Home & Garden, Mark's Carts, Bill's Beer Garden, and More

Maggie Cease

Jul 07 2016



Welcome to episode number 6 of the Aapricity Podcast! Today, I talk with Mark Hodesh. Mark is an Ann Arborite through and through. He started the Fleetwood Diner in 1972, and owned it nearly three years before selling it and purchasing Hertler Brothers Hardware (which is now Downtown Home and Garden) in 1975. After moving to Maine in 1981 and operating a historic inn there in the the 80s and 90s, he moved back to Ann Arbor, began operating Downtown Home and Garden again, and then went on to open Mark's Carts in 2011 and Bill's Beer Garden in 2012.

Mark and I met for the interview at Downtown Home and Garden, and we talked about the history of Ann Arbor, and how his businesses fit into the changing demographics of the city, where he gets inspiration for new business ideas and how he repurposes spaces to make them happen, what he does to create and run the best businesses he can, and much more.

If you're interested in finding out more about these businesses Mark has been involved in, go to aapricity.com, where I've got information and links to them.

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Thanks for listening!