PARTNR HAUS

Kelli DeLaRosa, Mike Naert and Becky Peters

2139 Cole Street, Birmingham, 48009 | 248.792.9717 partnrhaus.com

Becky Peters and Kelli DeLaRosa opened the doors of PARTNR HAUS nearly five years ago in response to the market’s need for a high quality, serviceoriented office furniture dealership. PARTNR HAUS now has nine employees, including Mike Naert, who became a partner in September 2022. The company designs and furnishes workplace environments and is the premier dealer for Kimball International in Michigan. Additionally, they offer their clients a hundred other furniture manufacturers to choose from to create an innovative, creative workspace.

PARTNR HAUS aims to elevate the client experience while providing solutions that influence culture and organizational growth. “We understand that effective collaboration and seamless communication are essential for organizations to thrive. Our clients are looking for comfortable and healthy work environments for their employees, along with flexibility. Employees perform best when given the freedom to choose how and where they work.” Peters said.

Service is their watch word. Every client is important, whether they need one chair or an entire office redesigned and furnished. While furniture is a majority of their sales, they also have a commercial flooring division which Naert manages. In addition, PARTNR HAUS recently opened a design studio with a retail contract furniture storefront and an interior finishes library for the design community.

PARTNR HAUS is driving the future of workspaces, ensuring that organizations can thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.

When you enter OPTIK, you quickly realize you have entered a pretty cool optical boutique. With an extraordinary mix of exclusive fashion eyewear scarcely found in the US, the store boasts the largest selection of original, unused vintage frames. Owner and optometrist Dr. Joseph Ales, OD, says that “very few people in the country offer a selection like we have,” which includes frames made of vinyl, wood, buffalo horn, leather, 3D printed, and a variety of metals. He typically finds these frames through his travels across Europe; recently, he did a collaboration with a line from Budapest that uses vinyl records as the final frame layer on exclusive styles for the Motown Museum in honor of its 60th anniversary.

Of course, before picking out a pair of glasses comes the eye exam.

“This is a retail environment, but we offer testing that goes beyond the minimal standard of care. I have invested in some of the latest imaging instrumentation for diagnosing which can save the patient a trip to a specialist sometimes. The technology has advanced and unfortunately the minimal requirements in a primary exam has not increased so much. Patients really appreciate our offering these tests,” noted Ales.

Something else customers are thankful for? “As a boutique optical, we take vision insurance. Most do not. People get a luxury frame using their insurance and that is quite a savings for them.”

It is Dr. Ales’ artistic sensibility and attention to patient care that has made OPTIK a Birmingham staple for over two decades.

F or more than a decade, Beth Hussey and Emmele Herrold dreamt of owning their own restaurant. The two first joined forces in 2012, with Hussey as operating partner and Herrold as executive chef of the successful Ferndale establishment OneEyed Betty's. They quickly discovered they a shared vision in the culinary industry –and a love of fresh-caught seafood.

As all great things do, the concept for Hazel's came in a flash of inspiration. Hussey found herself exploring the dining scene around the United States and in early 2018, she reached out to Herrold, to say, “It’s time to get the band back together.”

Downtown Birmingham was the place to be. A stroke of luck brought them to the enviable corner of Woodward and Maple, where they recognized the need for an approachable everyday restaurant. They created Hazel's, designed for a modern appetite with inspired-yet-accessible regional seafood dishes. The dining experience at Hazel’s is ideal for a date night – or a family dinner.

Herrold debuted the menu at Hazel’s with classic, familiar comfort foods. Flown-in fresh saltwater seafood has always been key to her menu. She now rotates the menus seasonally – consistently bringing authentic regional seafood dishes right home to the Mitten State.

Hazel’s begins each year with Hazel’s Crab Trap, an ode to Florida and New Orleans favorites. In spring, the Eastern Shore reels in the rich flavors of the Low Country and Atlantic Coast. By summer, Hazel’s Lobster Pound brings diners freshcaught lobster and a full menu of Maine favorites. And every fall, the dishes take on a hearty Pacific Northwest flair with Alaskan King Crab.

Hazel’s casual and approachable atmosphere comes courtesy of its caring, qualified staff. The restaurant offers open dining for 215 people, a welcoming horseshoe-shaped bar, a quaint outdoor grotto with 20 seats and a flexible event space. It’s the perfect place to gather with friends and dig into a pile of fresh seafood.