(Isstories Editorial):- Detroit, Michigan May 12, 2025 (Issuewire.com) – Longtime Detroit-area entrepreneur Dean Hachem is speaking out about the power of small, community-based businesses to spark prosperity in the city. Drawing from his own journey–starting The Sheik Restaurant in West Bloomfield and later running airport food operations for over 20 years–Hachem is calling for a return to neighborhood-rooted entrepreneurship.
“I’ve seen how one small restaurant can bring people together, create jobs, and keep money circulating locally,” said Hachem. “We don’t need mega-projects to rebuild. We need more people betting on their own ideas, right here in their own communities.”
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the country. In Detroit, nearly 80% of businesses have fewer than 10 employees, yet many struggle with access to funding, mentorship, and consistent support.
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“We need to take pride in the corner shop, the food truck, the family-run diner,” Hachem said. “These are the places that anchor a neighborhood. They’re more than businesses–they’re signs of life.”
Hachem knows this firsthand. His restaurant didn’t just serve food–it became a gathering spot, a training ground, and a source of opportunity for locals. His later work in airport operations showed him how even fast-paced, high-volume environments rely on trust, community, and practical skills.
“People think you need huge capital to start something. You don’t,” he said. “What you need is a clear idea, consistency, and the courage to take the first step.”
In a city like Detroit–where population loss and economic shifts have left commercial corridors empty–Hachem believes the revival starts small. Literally.
“If 100 people opened micro-businesses today, it would change the rhythm of the city,” he said. “Not all will scale up. That’s okay. The impact is in circulation–money, skills, pride staying local.”
His call isn’t about launching a new program or nonprofit. It’s personal. It’s practical. And it’s grassroots.
Hachem urges Detroiters to take a serious look at what’s already in their hands–recipes, services, skills, crafts–and consider starting small. He encourages others to share knowledge, mentor a neighbor, or support local spots over chains.
“You don’t need a perfect plan. You need motion,” he said. “And if you’ve built something that works, teach someone else how to do it. Prosperity grows when we pass it on.”
Dean Hachem
