“COVID changed everything,” said Plymouth resident Stephen Brant. “I purchased a house on Arthur Street in August 2019 and fixed it up. I moved in January 2020, then COVID hit and I was isolated until the Plymouth Pause meet your neighbor event.”

Brant connected with fellow residents.

“I met Brock and Jessica, Brian, Katie, Paco, Kathleen, Maureen, and others,” he said. “We’re all great friends to this day. Trips, weddings, funerals, cornhole, we even started a book club together. Six months into COVID, I also rescued Noraa, the Siamese cat. She’s a real sassy lady.”

Brant grew up in Northville.

“I graduated Northville High School in 2007,” Brant said. “Then U of M Dearborn for computer science (information systems). I’ve been interested in computers since I was a kid playing StarCraft, Diablo, Warcraft, Quake. One day my computer broke, I started tinkering and have been hooked ever since.”

After college, Brant moved to Redford and worked at CHEP container Division in Livonia.

“I was doing UX design, data analysis, tracking products in the food supply,” he said. “But I found more fun and profit in selling collectibles and antiques, so I quit to do that full time.”

Scouring estate and garage sales and auctions, Brant sells on eBay, Facebook Marketplace and especially via WOM (word of mouth).

“My parents were antique collectors,” Brant said. “After my dad died in a motorcycle accident in 2016, I inherited a lot of antiques. I’ve sold motorcycles, guns, furniture, Magic cards, rare art, and more.”

Personal interests run the gamut.

“I love music, traveling, motorcycles, bowling, disc golf, darts, board games, home repair, learning about investing,” Brant said. “I play a lot of disc golf at Cass Benton in Hines Park and I’m creating a mini disc golf course in my backyard. I’m also starting a scooter gang of moped enthusiasts.”

As you can see, Brant has wide-ranging interests, including being an audiophile.

“Vinyl records and especially headphones are used daily,” he said. “Current favorites are the Romanian Meze Empyrean. I love live music festivals, especially Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, Michigan’s Electric Forest and going to small local venues like The Blind Pig, The Shelter and The Sanctuary.”

Traveling favorites include a constellation of fun spots.

“I really enjoyed England, where my mom’s family is from, particularly Devon,” he said. “We spread my dad’s ashes at the Isle of Man. I loved Oktoberfest in Munich. Skiing Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada. Staying in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Chilling on the gorgeous yet uncrowded Brackley Beach and staying in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.”

Vacations are great but Brant can’t imagine living anywhere but Plymouth. “Plymouth is a beautiful and unique slice of the world,” he said. “If you’re open to meeting cool people, this is a wonderful place for you. I love the cornhole league at the Plymouth Cultural Center, where I’ve met a ton of amazing people. I love the Bearded Lamb, Hermann’s, Barrio, EJ Nicks, and State of Comics.”

Catch Brant around town drinking Tecate, or if he’s feeling fancy, some aged top-shelf tequila.

“I’ll be building a new two-car garage, restoring old Vespas and launching an onsite IT service to help homeowners,” he said. “I like to stay busy.”