What is a business that would be RIPE for starting in Detroit?

[Spartan]

Yes mentioned them here:

Ah yes, I was looking for it and still couldn't find it... I think they do a good job. They're still fairly new and green, but so is the concept of people wanting to move to Detroit. I think they do a good job with the stuff they do, but their marketing leaves a bit to be desired. They do a lot of cool stuff but a lot of people don't really know about it. My apartment complex did a bus tour of the city through dhive which was very cool. Didn't know they did anything like that without the apartment setting it up though.

[Spartan]

It'd be kinda cool if they had a Little Caesar's flagship in downtown Detroit somewhere in Hockeytown/Ilitchville. Hopefully the pizza would be of better quality than what they sell at the franchise locations.

With a Hot N Ready buffet

[Richard]

Stores have a policy that when something is returned it cannot be resold back on the shelf,range of stores is from dollar to the highest priced on the spectrum,they sell these returns by the tractor trailer load wholesale.

You could get a empty warehouse and have a no frills clothing resale center that would cover all income levels even if you incur massive shrinkage you still have a 40% + return on a $60k investment .

Not hard to learn,low overhead,does not require large staffing.

[DetroitPlanner]

Scrap Metal buyer?

Little Ceasers had locations in the Millender Center, across from Cobo, and an America's Pizza Cafe at one time. Its not like they did not try. You can currently get the pies at the Motor City caSINo.

[rex]

parking lots. Detroit cant have enough of em

[rex]

a quality full line grocery store midtown thats not Whole Foods

[Hypestyles]

more ethnic restaurants- caribbean, south asian, etc.

[Smirnoff]

Is this a loaded question: DEMOLITION Business!

Just think about all the homes & commercial buildings that need to be tore down & the current rhetoric of it happening.....a big cash cow waiting $$$$$ !

[rutlev]

University Foods is a full line grocer - Spartan Store - Warren is pretty midtown

[Islandman]

Is there a reason you can't find a Taco Bell in the city?

I think a Taco Bell in Hamtramck would do well.

[ArmDetroit]

Is there a reason you can't find a Taco Bell in the city?

Hahaha, I have often wondered this myself.

[Drexciya68]

Would a barber shop/salon/tanning salon survive?

[JAYCR]

I've honestly been surprised that no one has attempted a coney island with veggie dogs and veggie chilli in corktown/midtown. I think it would be a hit there.

The Phoney Coney?

[brizee]

Is there a reason you can't find a Taco Bell in the city?

I think a Taco Bell in Hamtramck would do well.

Do you mean there's no TB in Hamtramck?

Because Taco Bells are all over Detroit.

[webband1]

Is there a reason you can't find a Taco Bell in the city?

I think a Taco Bell in Hamtramck would do well.

There is one on Gratiot out by City Airport. Unless you meant Downtown/Midtown.

I think the reason there isn't one Downtown/Midtown is because there is one in the Wayne State student center. Might be a geographic exclusivity thing with the franchises... not that seems to stop Subway... there are like 8 within a 1/2 mile of the intersection of Warren and Woodward.

[webband1]

A chain of grocery stores catering to the elderly and low income residents [[especially to those receiving government food assistance.) No fancy displays, gourmet delis or craft beer selections, but all the basics at reasonable prices. To avoid the normal security and shrinkage issues it could be done as a warehouse store where the customers didn't have direct access to the items, but they could place orders in advance [[or once there) which would be pulled by employees. Regular customers could have weekly or monthly essentials lists that could be refilled automatically and possibly delivered for the elderly of those without transportation. Perhaps they could also offer onsite cooking classes so that customers could pass the time while they waited nd be better prepared to utilize their purchases.

As a taxpayer it ticks me off when I see an "EBT" sign in the window of a party store that sells nothing but overpriced cans of off brand Spaghettios and white bread. And as an American, I'm just as upset that those in real need of food assistance are not receiving any value for their limited funds, and don't have local access to reasonably nutritious meals.

http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2...food-oasis.php

This was an article about a grocery delivery company starting up... haven't heard anything about it since the Curbed article, and it doesn't seem like they're targeting the groups you mentioned, just figured I would point it out.

[mikefmich]

Sanders would work nicely.

[black gold man]

Hot rod shop on Woodward south of 8mile.
To help bring the cruise to Detroit.

[noise]

While small scale, I think there is room for a couple of smart restaurant ideas around Wayne State. Maybe it's because I spend a lot of time there, but I always feel like the options are pretty limited in comparison to other schools of this size.

[Zacha341]

----How fortuitous! What shall we name it?

You Steel - We Buy, LLC

Scrap Metal buyer?

[kenp]

----How fortuitous! What shall we name it?

You Steel - We Buy, LLC

haha, good one

[ABetterDetroit]

With all the construction projects in the near future a equipment rental business within a couple miles of downtown/midtown would seem pretty sure fire to me. Plenty of smaller light industrial parcels for rent or sale that would be a good fit.

[1953]

There are lots of people downtown these days, and we have limited options as to where to shop, and only a smattering of places to eat quick and cheap. I would love to see some more basic sandwich shops [[not subs, but sandwiches), some clothing stores, some home good stores, etc. Also, how about some places to get good Italian food, or a polish sausage? A hamburger stand that sells basic burgers, fries, and cokes?

1953

[ABetterDetroit]

Office cleaning company. Low overhead to start. As more and more office sq footage goes in in the downtown there will be more opportunity for more cleaning companies. A small hardworking crew that cleans good and never steals will rise rapidly just by word of mouth because the bigger companies always have more issues from my experance. Almost every buildings superintendent have had ones that couse problem so when they find one that they are happy with they do what is required to keep them happy financially, keeping tenants happy is the name of the game.

[aj3647]

I've honestly been surprised that no one has attempted a coney island with veggie dogs and veggie chilli in corktown/midtown. I think it would be a hit there.

Couldn't existing coney places just add those two items to their menus if they aren't already on there? It's not like you need a coney place that JUST does veggie-specific options. How many vegetarians are hankering for a coney dog anyways?

Apartment search company.

Lots of people are moving in from the suburbs and other areas and have no idea where to look, what's safe, what neighborhood means what, and so on.

Internet. And it's free. Most of that information is available somewhere online. I don't see Lowell's "City Conceirge" idea appealing to middle and working-class people nor do I think the number of "rich white people who are strangers to Detroit and need a paid tutorial on where to go" is high enough to sustain more than a handful of individuals in such a niche endeavor. And such a business model would hardly need a brick and mortar location, all it would need is a website.