Who we are
Dream Merchant Enterprises is a vertically integrated company specializing in hospitality, real estate, and workforce development. Rooted in a lifetime of experience serving millions through hospitality, we are uniquely positioned to support the commercial resurgence of Gary, Chicago’s South Shore, and Northwest Indiana.
Our Mission
We exist to build brands that build communities. Every concept we develop is more than a business—it’s a platform for entrepreneurship, culture, and transformation. By aligning hospitality with real estate development and creative storytelling, we create destinations that uplift both people and place.
Our Vision
To develop dynamic and sustainable lifestyle hospitality assets powered by a workforce we personally train, nurture, and equip with the skill sets that embody the holistic spirit of hospitality - prepared to drive urban revitalization in Gary, Indiana, greater Northwest Indiana and South Chicago.
Why it Matters
Hospitality is not just business—it’s a calling. We believe in revitalizing neighborhoods, empowering entrepreneurs, and creating a workforce with ownership and pride. Our work is about serving with love while building sustainable, thriving communities.
Join Us
The Dream Merchant journey is just beginning. Whether you are a partner, investor, entrepreneur, or neighbor—we invite you to walk with us as we create a new era of hospitality and community development.
Our Story
Founded by hospitality visionary Michael Vann, Dream Merchant Enterprises was born out of a 40-year journey across New York, Chicago, and beyond. From iconic restaurants to lifestyle brands, Michael’s work has always been rooted in a deep belief: food and hospitality are ministries of service, connection, and healing. Now, DME brings that philosophy home to Northwest Indiana—transforming local corridors into vibrant hubs of dining, creativity, and opportunity.
Our Founding Team
At the heart of Dream Merchant Enterprises is a synergistic team of trusted leaders and creators. Each member of the founding team has shared history with Michael Vann, working alongside him in some capacity over the last 30–35 years. These enduring relationships, forged in kitchens, boardrooms, and community spaces, now converge into one powerful mission: to reimagine hospitality and build communities together. This collective of seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals represents not only proven expertise but also a spirit of loyalty, trust, and shared vision.
Michael Vann
Founder/CEO
Michael Vann is a visionary hospitality and retail entrepreneur whose career spans over four decades of cultural innovation, brand creation, and community impact. Shaped by the industrial grit and community spirit of Gary, Indiana and New York’s competitive landscape, Michael has developed a legacy of developing iconic restaurant concepts that have become cornerstones of urban culture - including the legendary Shark Bar, Soul Cafe, Mekka, and Smitty & Mo’s.
Beginning his professional journey at national retail giant Lord & Taylor, Michael successfully rose as an executive through the Menswear merchandising division before transitioning into hospitality. As a founding force behind several restaurants that redefined soul food and lifestyle dining experiences, Michael created cultural dining sanctuaries. His expertise lies in bridging lifestyle branding with operational excellence. He has advised industry leaders, guided start-ups into national recognition, and brokered a landmark licensing deal with Amy Ruth’s expansion to Foxwood’s Casino. Michael’s ability to unite commerce with culture has made him a trusted voice in hospitality strategy and urban revitalization in Harlem, Newark, and Atlantic City.
Now rooted once again in Gary, and Chicago, Michael is positioning Dream Merchant Enterprises to be a community catalyst in augmenting the growth of the hospitality landscape in Gary, Indiana, Greater Northwest Indiana, and the South Shore Chicago community.
Charlotte Lyons
Chief Culinary Executive
Charlotte L. Lyons is a nationally recognized food editor, cookbook author, food stylist, and culinary presenter whose work has shaped the way generations of African Americans cook, gather, and celebrate through food. Best known as the longtime food editor of Ebony Magazine, Charlotte brought food to life for more than a million readers each month—developing, testing, and styling recipes that connected cultural heritage with culinary innovation.
Over the course of her distinguished career, Charlotte has worked with some of the world’s most iconic food brands, including General Mills and Campbell Soup Company, where she served in senior roles developing products, training culinary staff, and shaping consumer food experiences. She also authored The New Ebony Cookbook, a beloved collection of recipes that blends tradition with modern flair.
A dynamic speaker and sought-after media personality, Charlotte has appeared on Steve Harvey, Tom Joyner, and Tavis Smiley radio shows, as well as on Fox News Atlanta, WLS-Chicago, and other broadcast outlets. She’s been a featured chef and culinary director for major national events such as the Taste of Ebony Culinary Extravaganza and the Ebony Family Reunion Tour, and has judged prestigious culinary competitions including the Pillsbury Bake-Off, Betty Crocker Soul Food Recipe Competition, and the Sofi Awards in New York City.
Charlotte’s career is rooted in deep expertise and creative leadership. She has trained product development teams, led corporate dining operations, and built a respected legacy of educating both home cooks and professionals. Whether developing a new soup recipe, styling for an editorial photoshoot, or presenting to a live audience, Charlotte brings warmth, precision, and an undeniable passion for food and culture.
Charlotte Lyons continues to inspire as a culinary icon whose influence spans publishing, television, product innovation, and the rich storytelling of Black cuisine. As Chief Culinary Executive, Ms. Lyons will be instrumental in curating the culinary development of new food brands for Dream Merchant restaurant and consumer food products.
Walter Hinds
Executive Chef & Culinary Strategist
Chef Walter Hinds is a prodigy of the Peter Kump New York Cooking School. After graduation, he spent the next ten years working in Paris at Lucas carton and then several prominent New York restaurants, such as Gotham Bar and Grill, Odeon and 75 Main in Southampton. Chef Hinds is a critically acclaimed Executive Chef, who has been featured in many national and international publications, e.g. New York Times, New York Daily News, New York Magazine.
Chef Hinds opened and operated Bliss Restaurant/Nightclub on the island of St. Maarten, N.A. He then went on to supervise the kitchen at Stone Terrace Restaurant on the island of St. John, USVI. As its Executive Chef, Chef Hinds was awarded St. John Chef of the Year in 2008, while the restaurant was named Best Gourmet Restaurant in the Virgin Islands. Chef Hinds also opened and operated his premiere restaurant Hinds Restaurant on the island of St. John,USVI in 2023. Within the first five months of operations, Chef Hinds won the Best Gourmet Restaurant in the USVI, Best Wine List on St. John, and Best Martini Bar in St. John; one year later Hinds Restaurant was voted Best French Restaurant in St. John. Chef Hinds brings his high level, diverse culinary skills to the Dream Merchant braintrust, focusing on maintaining the broad taste profiles offered across the Dream Merchant Hospitality Group’s brand portfolio.
James Rose
Executive Director-Food Systems & Logistics
Chef James Rose is a seasoned culinary strategist with over two decades of experience in large-scale food service operations, production management, and sustainability. Known for his innovative approach to logistics and resource optimization, Chef Rose has mastered the art of reducing waste while driving efficiency and profitability across diverse hospitality environments.
His career spans from reinventing a Southern-inspired café at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts—turning it into a cultural hub and revenue generator—to serving as a personal chef for Alabama’s governor. Transitioning into the corporate sector, Chef Rose became a key player at John Q. Hammonds, where he successfully reduced food costs from 60% to 33% across multiple outlets, setting a benchmark for operational excellence.
Since 2006, Chef Rose has led major initiatives with Aramark at The University of Alabama, scaling operations from a $3M to an $18M account while managing production for 3,500 daily meals. His expertise includes logistics planning, labor management, safety compliance, and sustainability practices that have positioned the university as Aramark’s Southern flagship. He has also consulted for multiple institutions, including Mississippi State and the University of Texas at San Antonio, standardizing production systems and waste reduction protocols.
Chef Rose’s leadership extends beyond the kitchen—he has coordinated large-scale events for state officials, organized disaster relief pop-up kitchens, and implemented innovative solutions during COVID-19 to ensure safe, efficient meal service. Internationally, he has infused Southern culinary traditions into French cuisine during his volunteer work in Cannes, France, while promoting cultural diversity and inclusion through HBCU partnerships.
As Logistics Executive Chef, Chef Rose brings unmatched expertise in high-volume production, cost control, and sustainable operations, making him a cornerstone of Dream Merchant Hospitality Group’s hospitality ecosystem.
Robert Davis
Construction Strategist & Project Manager
Robert E. Davis III is a veteran construction management executive with more than four decades of experience leading high-impact commercial, civic, and infrastructure projects across the Southeast. From his early career with Turner Construction beginning in 1981 to his most recent tenure at C.D. Moody Construction, Mr. Davis has been a steady force behind the successful delivery of complex developments—always on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and safety.
His professional journey includes pivotal roles with nationally recognized firms and public institutions. After launching his career with Turner (1981–1988), he led independent construction initiatives from 1988 to 1992 before joining the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (1992–1997), where he contributed to critical infrastructure in preparation for the 1996 Summer Games. He then held senior roles at Heery International (1997–2005), the Georgia State Finance and Investment Commission (2005–2008), and C.D. Moody Construction (2008–2024), where he continued to execute multimillion-dollar projects with precision and integrity.
Throughout his career, Mr. Davis has demonstrated exceptional command of strategic project planning, subcontractor coordination, regulatory compliance, and resource optimization. His deep technical acumen, including blueprint analysis and real-time problem-solving on job sites, is matched by his commitment to collaborative leadership and stakeholder engagement. Known for integrating sustainable practices and value engineering into every phase of a build, he balances visionary planning with boots-on-the-ground execution.
Now retired from active field operations, Mr. Davis brings his seasoned insight and mentorship to the Dream Merchant Enterprises board, where he will help shape and oversee the execution of large-scale hospitality, mixed-use, and cultural redevelopment projects. His legacy of excellence in construction management, coupled with a values-driven leadership style, makes him an indispensable contributor to Dream Merchant’s Development Group’s mission of building transformational spaces rooted in purpose, innovation, and community uplift.