In episode Thirty Five, my guest is Dave Kwiatkowski from the Sugar House in Detroit, Michigan. Dave and I sat own over glasses of whiskey in Corktown and talked about his adventure in classic cocktails, small business and community building. Dave’s a natural and encouraging champion for Detroit, Drinks and drinks IN Detroit.
The Music: “Wealthy Street” on intro and outro, © and courtesy of Drew Nelson
Guest Bio
After graduating from the Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan with a BBA in 2000, Kwiatkowski moved to Chicago where he traded equity options on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. It was there he was bitten by the craft cocktail bug, and in 2009 decided to return to his home town to open Detroit’s first craft cocktail bar, The Sugar House.
Discovering a deep affection for hospitality, he teamed up with friend and longtime Wolfgang Puck-trained chef, Marc Djozlija, to open their fine dining restaurant, Wright & Company. Kwiatkowski is now a partner in several other properties including Honest?John’s, The Peterboro, Bad Luck, and has several other projects currently in the works.
Kwiatkowski recently formed Detroit Optimist Society as a parent group to house and employ a Director of Operations, in-house marketing department, and financial control unit. Their mission is to elevate the dining scene in Detroit, and create memorable experiences through hospitality.