Originally Posted by
jackie5275
This is something I think is an important point. Yes, there is shopping spread out all around downtown. But that's just it. It's spread out. It's not conducive for walking around. If I buy something from Nat'l Dry Goods, then walk carrying my bags back into downtown, then walk to Busy Bee for something else, it's a hassle. I'm walking carrying bags of merchandise for 2-3 miles. Most shoppers don't want to do this. They want to go buy their stuff with as little hassle as possible. They're not interested in observing & enjoying the historic architecture on their route.
Nor is it really conducive for driving because the parking is a pain. As noted before, most of these businesses are only open during the day & close up by 6 pm. So I have to find a place to park on the street, most likely with a meter to shop at these places. I have to pay at the meter because I'm shopping during enforcement hours. I only get 15 mins for a quarter. This is going to happen at each of my stops. Most shoppers don't want to do this either. You can't get any decent shopping done in just 15 mins. Hamtramck, Ferndale, Milford, Northville all have shopping areas where shops are close together for walkability, & your quarter at the meter goes longer, at least a half an hour. Free or low cost parking and walkability give the suburbs more preference.