Introduction to Detroit

As the largest city in the state of Michigan, Detroit is best known as the center of the US automobile industry. It hosts the headquarters of the “Big Three” US auto manufacturers: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford Motor Company and General Motors. Having been through industrial restructuring and suburbanization, the city may now be undergoing a revitalization. Detroit became the first US city to be named a UNESCO City of Design in 2015. It welcomes an increasing number of tourists every year.

Demographics

Detroit’s population has been declining for around 60 years, and currently totals around 670,000. According to the US Census Bureau, this decline is finally slowing, but there is some debate about when the population will stabilize. In terms of racial composition, the city is 79% African American and 14% white, according to the Census Bureau’s most recent American Community Survey.

Top Five Shopping Districts

1. Woodward District: Woodward Avenue, also known as “Detroit’s Main Street,” stretches from the riverfront all the way across the city. Lining the avenue is a unique blend of local boutiques and national retailers, concept stores, fine dining and a variety of art installations.
2. Parker’s Alley: In a nook behind the boutique Shinola hotel, Parker’s Alley has been completely transformed to host a combination of international and local brands. In this row of shopping, one can find juice and coffee shops, vintage apparel, wardrobe accessories, personal products and more.
3. Capitol Park: Capitol Park is a luxurious residential neighborhood, in the heart of Detroit. It features an assortment of fine dining options, boutique coffee shops and a blend of national and local retailers. Much of Capitol Park has been recently developed, with new installations set to be established.
4. The Avenue of Fashion: Located in Northwest Detroit, the Avenue of Fashion is the city’s apparel industry hub. Most retail shops here are independently owned, so prices are 30% to 70% lower than mall prices. Many of these stores include African American owned art studios and clothing stores that pay respects to the city’s roots.
5. Cass Corridor: Just off Woodward Avenue, in midtown, Cass Corridor offers a varied retail experience. It features independent shops such as book, clothing and record stores, as well as a wide selection of bars, cafes and restaurants, including cocktail lounges with live jazz and food halls with funky creations and classic American fare.

Famous Retail Events

GM Renaissance Center Holiday Headquarters: Holiday Headquarters is an annual event that hosts 30 Detroit businesses as one-week pop-ups in a rotating marketplace. Offering products from apparel to pet merchandise, the market opens at the Renaissance Center every November for three weeks. Vendors are chosen to reflect the Renaissance Center’s values of being entrepreneurial, innovative and committed to Detroit. Kris Kringle Market: Kris Kringle Market is a holiday themed outdoor market that features specialty foods, fresh produce and handcrafted holiday gifts. It is held in the Detroit suburb of Rochester. Eastern Market After Dark: The Eastern Market After Dark yearly event aligns with the Detroit Month of Design. Its purpose is to share the talents and creations of the city’s artists, designers, entrepreneurs and craftsmen. Galleries, studios and vending locations are open throughout the night in the Eastern Market.

Top Innovative Retailers

Drought [caption id="attachment_102039" align="alignright" width="280"] Source: droughtjuice.com[/caption] Drought is a Detroit-based juice brand that offers buying-in-bulk options to its customers. Its juices are available in a variety of flavors and functionalities, from meal replacements to juice cleanses. The company has four retail locations in Metro Detroit, including in Parker’s Alley, one of Detroit’s hottest shopping districts. Location: 1435 Farmer St Ste. 126, Detroit, MI 48226   [caption id="attachment_98325" align="alignright" width="289"] Source: www.citybirddetroit.com[/caption] City Bird and City Nest City Bird and Nest are sister stores, located on the Cass Corridor in Midtown. City Bird features Michigan and Detroit themed products such as jewelry, stationary and other accessories. City Nest hosts a collection of products that include home items, plants, candles and kitchenware. City Bird is the oldest store in the Cass Corridor district. Location: 460 W. Canfield St. #103, Detroit, MI 48201   Hugh [caption id="attachment_98326" align="alignright" width="222"] Source: www.instagram.com/thankhugh/[/caption] Hugh is a boutique that sells a constantly rotating selection of housewares, men’s accessories, gifts, furniture and lighting. Its products designs feature modern styles with many products featuring Detroit insignia. It was the first pop-up retail store in Southeastern Michigan. In addition, store also opens by appointment and hosts private shopping events for groups of up to 50 people. Location: 4240 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201   Savvy Chic Trends [caption id="attachment_98327" align="alignright" width="263"] Source: www.savvychictrends.com[/caption] As a lifestyle boutique, Savvy Chic is special for its Parisian flare. It sells an ever-changing mix of French-style clothing and accessories such as linens, gourmet foods, candles, gifts, greeting cards and shoes. The store also features Cairo Coffee, a specialty coffee shop and library.   Location: 2712 Riopelle Street, Detroit, MI 48207   Shinola [caption id="attachment_98328" align="alignright" width="247"] Source: www.shinola.com[/caption] Shinola is a Detroit based luxury design brand that was founded in 2011 by a team of artisans committed to producing handcrafted products, such as watches, bicycles, leather goods and jewelry. The company has two stores in Detroit, one on Woodward Avenue and the other in Midtown. In the latter, Shinola also features an in-house café and florist, which hosts regular workshops. Location: 441 W Canfield, Detroit, MI 48201/1424 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226   Eldorado General Store [caption id="attachment_98329" align="alignright" width="179"] Source: www.eldoradogeneralstore.com[/caption] Located in Corktown, the Eldorado is a boutique shop that features vintage clothing, bohemian jewelry and one-of-a-kind accessories and trinkets. As an expression of store’s eccentric interior, the exterior features a three-story mural of a bird, woman and tiger blending into one.   Location: Corktown, 1700 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48216     Spectacles [caption id="attachment_98330" align="alignright" width="178"] Source: www.spectaclesdetroit.com[/caption] Located in the Grand River Harmonie Park in Downtown Detroit, Spectacles sells Detroit themed clothing, accessories, music and literature for men and women. The store is known for being both sponsor of, and host to, many of Detroit’s talents, from Kid Rock to Derrick May, as well as visiting legends like Run-DMC.   Location: 230 E. Grand River Harmonie Park, Downtown Detroit, MI 48226     Flo Boutique [caption id="attachment_98331" align="alignright" width="209"] Source: www.flowingflava.com</em[/caption] A west Willis Village staple for more than 15 years, Flo Boutique is a lifestyle clothing boutique for women and men. It sells its clients a variety of eclectic, high-quality clothing, hats, shoes, and accessories by local, national, and international designers. The store has a simple, creative, and funky vibe just like its owner, Felicia Williams-Patrick. Has been in the boutique business for 16 years, Patrick has a passion to keep eclectic pieces in stock that customers won’t find in other local stores. She also supports local artists, stocking Snob, Is Wear and Scroll. Location: 404 W Willis St, Detroit, MI 48201   Detroit Is The New Black [caption id="attachment_98332" align="alignright" width="221"] Source: www.facebook.com/DetIsTheNewBlack[/caption] Located on Woodward Avenue, Detroit Is The New Black is a specialty retailer that sells contemporary men’s and women’s apparel. Its creations are inspired by the city of Detroit, combing minimalism and high-street aesthetics to achieve a balance of urban fashion. The store also functions as a rotating art gallery and community space, featuring new art installations each month. Detroit Is The New Black hosts art exhibits and classes, trunk shows, poetry slams, fundraisers, cocktail parties and other private events. Location: 1430 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226   Not Sorry Apparel [caption id="attachment_98333" align="alignright" width="211"] Source: www.instagram.com/notsorryapparel[/caption] Not Sorry Apparel is an environmentally conscious lifestyle brand, using eco-friendly materials to increase the sustainability of fast fashion. Not Sorry Apparel sells affordably priced re-branded and upcycled garments. Location: 22801 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, Detroit, MI 48220     Detroit Denim [caption id="attachment_98334" align="alignright" width="258"] Source: detroitdenim.com[/caption] Detroit Denim is a high-end designer store that sells handmade custom jeans, shirts and accessories for men and women. The brand is committed to offering domestically sourced, handcrafted jeans. It also offers a denim repair service. Owner Eric Yelsma founded Detroit Denim in 2010. He believes that experience-modeled retail has been key to the company’s success—Detroit Denim engages with customers about their jeans through services like customization and repair. The brand plans to increase production from 20 to 1,000 pairs of jeans per day by 2022, and will also open a second location in the city in late 2019. Location:  2987 Franklin St, Suite B, Detroit, MI 48207   Must-See Street: Riopelle Street Located in the Eastern Market, a historic commercial district in Detroit, Riopelle Street hosts innovative boutiques and gallery stores. On the corner is OmniCorpDetroit, a collective of “Detroit Spirit”—workers, creators, artists, engineers, musicians and more—that comes together in a repurposed industrial building to work on projects that “revitalize” Detroit.

1. Detroit Is The New Black: Detroit Is The New Black is a men’s and women’s clothing store. Its designs are inspired by Detroit culture to create a line of urban-inspired high-fashion clothing.
2. Shinola: Shinola is a high-end retailer of watches, bicycles, leather goods, jewelry and other gift items. Its products are handcrafted.
3. Moosejaw: Moosejaw is a retailer specializing in apparel for outdoor recreation sports such as snowboarding, rock climbing, hiking and camping.
4. Nike: Nike is a lifestyle and athletic brand that carries many lines of footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories.
5. Detroit Water Ice Factory: Detroit Water Ice Factory is an ice cream parlor that sells frozen goods and other snacks. It uses profits to help raise money for S.A.Y Detroit, which helps the city’s poor.

Coresight Research teamed up with commercial real estate firm Bedrock Detroit to create this report. Bedrock Detroit specializes in strategic redevelopment of midwestern urban cores. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock Detroit has purchased and developed office and retail locations for over 330 tenants, many of whom now are anchors in Detroit’s retail and technology sector, including Chrysler, Detroit Labs, John Varvatos and Nike. We would like to thank Jennifer Skiba at Bedrock Detroit.