Local food shop first up in entrepreneurship speaker series
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The owners of Station 66, a locally focused ice cream and food shop in Battle Creek, will be the first speakers in the Entrepreneurship Forum speaker series at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business.
Curtis and Janette Tramel will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, in 2150 Schneider Hall. The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast provided by Station 66 at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059 or online. Free parking is available in Schneider Hall Lot 72R.
Station 66
Station 66 is a one-stop-shop in Battle Creek featuring seasonal activities and food such as donuts, ice cream, local produce and more.
Station 66 opened in 2010, but the story started long before that. The old gas station the business is housed in was built and run by Curtis's great-great-grandfather in the 1930s through the 1950s. In 1959, the gas station was forced to close due to the building of the M-66 highway. The building had been vacant for 50 years when Curtis decided to pursue his childhood dream of opening a business.
His original business plan involved focusing on fall activities such as donuts, cider, pumpkins and hayrides, but he soon discovered the business would need to be open more than just one season per year to be successful. He added ice cream to the menu, and now the business offers a variety of food items with local influence, as well as seasonal activities and events.
With help from the Michigan Small Business Development Center, the Tramels operate the growing business, and the business was recently honored as one of the 2018 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business.
Entrepreneurship Forum
Entrepreneurship Forum is a monthly series sponsored by BlueOx Credit Union and hosted by WMU's Haworth College of Business. The forum brings stories of entrepreneurs and startup success to the greater Kalamazoo community. Learn more about the Entrepreneurship Forum.
Future Entrepreneurship Forum Speakers
- Oct. 12: Jeremy Andrews, founder and chief excitement officer, Sprout Urban Farms
- Nov. 9: Jesus Grillo, founder, Nueva Opinion
- Dec. 7: Pete Laforest, owner, B45 Academy
- Jan. 11: Scott Zylstra, founder, Old Mill Brewpub
- Feb. 8: Valencia Scott, founder, Perfect Pucker
- March 15: Ben Nobis, founder, Nobis Agri Science
- April 12: Matthew McDaid, founder, Section 1776
For more information or to RSVP, call (269) 387-6059 or register. To suggest an entrepreneur who should be considered for the series, email alyssa.benson@wmich.edu.
For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.