WSJ: Gilbert & Shinola teaming up for new boutique hotel in downtown detroit

No mention of WHERE this hotel is though?? Am i missing something?

Set to open Fall 2018

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pb...v=201411210943
http://www.wsj.com/articles/detroit-...94284?mod=e2tw

The trick is going to be figuring out which historic buildings are currently empty and where they might build something new attached to that. Im going to guess and say that it is Broadway and incorporates the large empty structure there, whose name escapes me, as well as links up to the planned alley that is part of the new Paradise Valley development.

Harvard Square is the building I am thinking.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ilbert-team-up


1400 Woodward

Very promising for Woodward Ave. foot traffic.

And shall pair perfectly with whatever is going on the Hudson Block, across the street.

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Originally Posted by 123456789

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ilbert-team-up


1400 Woodward

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Talk about a strategic location for Gilbert!!!!

He could not ask for a better location than that location, given what is across the corner from 1400 Woodward!!

If he's proposing part deux/extension of 'the belt' what's to be built on the empty lot on farmer between Woodward and the YMCA?

It's almost daily now. I would Not trade 1 Dan Gilbert for 50 more Mike Ilitches

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...-law/90129986/

More great Detroit News. From the Crains Article:
"Shinola/Detroit LLC and Dan Gilbert's Bedrock Real Estate Services LLC are teaming up on an independent boutique hotel in downtown Detroit.

The red eight-story building downtown at 1400 Woodward Ave., which began life as a hardware store and most recently housed Eastern Wig & Hair Co. LLC, will be renovated into a hotel meshing the craftsmanship Shinola is known for with Bedrock's urban development experience, the developers say. The four-story building two doors down at 1416 Woodward Ave. is also part of the project. It was designed by Smith Hinchman & Grylls in 1936 for Singer Sewing Machine Co.

Developing a hotel is a step well outside Shinola's previous retail focus, which encompasses watches, bicycles and other items, assembled in Detroit.

Renovations on the building are set to begin in November and wrap up in time for a fall 2018 opening of the 130-room Shinola Hotel."

Another day, another development for DG. It's nice to see all of these taking place, but I think we are all waiting on the Hudson's site. DG can redevelop buildings, no doubt about that, but can he build a masterpiece from the ground up? Because it probably won't matter how many buildings the guy resurrects if he puts up a 50 story pile of shit for everyone to stare at. The Hudson's site is going to be his legacy and depending on how you look it at, that could be a good or bad thing.

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Originally Posted by mikeg19

Another day, another development for DG. It's nice to see all of these taking place, but I think we are all waiting on the Hudson's site. DG can redevelop buildings, no doubt about that, but can he build a masterpiece from the ground up? Because it probably won't matter how many buildings the guy resurrects if he puts up a 50 story pile of shit for everyone to stare at. The Hudson's site is going to be his legacy and depending on how you look it at, that could be a good or bad thing.

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This should be an interesting dynamic with the Wurlizter Building, essentially right around the block, also becoming the host to a new hotel.

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Originally Posted by ABetterDetroit

It's almost daily now. I would Not trade 1 Dan Gilbert for 50 more Mike Ilitches

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...-law/90129986/

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There'd be no historic buildings left if there were 50 Mike Ilitches

It would be cool if inside they had a small retail store.

The rendering is gorgeous though. Reminds me of the various themed hotels NYC has, the Library Hotel being my favorite.

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

It would be cool if inside they had a small retail store.

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With a red hotel, boutique, and a wifi hotspot!

So the building 2 doors down is being included.... very nice. I'm curious about the building right next door [[between the 2 buildings). Different owner who doesn't want to sell... or?

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Originally Posted by warsaw7

This should be an interesting dynamic with the Wurlizter Building, essentially right around the block, also becoming the host to a new hotel.

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Not to mention the Metropolitan Building boutique hotel aka Element Hotel. Or the Aloft now operating in the Whitney.
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/evS...n_01-FINAL.jpg

I'm surprised downtown Detroit is strong enough to support 4 boutique hotels. The big chains handle most corporate business and I assumed a lot of the boutique business would go to downtowns that have a lot of tourists and a lot of residential where people visit friends & family. Downtown Detroit still does not have the wide variety of smaller businesses that might also place people doing business with them in these types of hotels. However I guess the 4 hotels only add about 600 rooms.

...and a major chain hotel is expected on the Service Drive next to Little Caesars Arena. As the article rightly points out, the hotel "build-out" nationally has thusfar passed Downtown Detroit by -- so this isn't really surprising. Local occupancy is strong -- and building of new properties in the suburbs continues as well.

Don't forget the Foundation hotel in the old fire headquarters as well.

Based on a few recent articles outlining occupancy in Detroit, I sounds like the hotel business is strong downtown to support more hotels. And was mentioned, it's only going to add 500-600 new rooms.

The interesting thing about all the new hotel space downtown is whether or not that is going to help bring in more convention business to COBO. For years it was cited as a reason as to why Detroit wasn't in competition to grab more large conventions, aside from the deplorable conditions COBO was in only a few years ago. Now that COBO renovations are complete and new hotels coming online, I would hope that the convention planners are branching out to larger conventions to try to woo them to come here.

The added hotel rooms should also help with regard to grabbing some major sporting events, namely the Big Ten College Football Championship game, an NHL all star game, more NCAA Tourney games, possibly another Super Bowl [[long shot), etc. Even a major music festival that draws 50,000-100,000 people like Coachella could be something.

Anyone around here who has tried to book hotel rooms downtown during an event knows it's pretty hard to get a decent room. Even weekends during the summer can be hard to get a room. I used to think adding too many hotel rooms would spell doom, but it seems like we've gone past that point and can support more rooms.

I'm not sure how solid the plans are but it wasn't that long ago that the owners of the Crown Plaza were talking of building a second, larger tower near COBO. I'm guessing that the market could still absorb quite a few more rooms.

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Originally Posted by Lowell

..............will be renovated into a hotel meshing the craftsmanship Shinola is known for ................

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So they're going to import the interior from Switzerland and the exterior from China and put the two together when they arrive? LOL

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Originally Posted by southen

I'm not sure how solid the plans are but it wasn't that long ago that the owners of the Crown Plaza were talking of building a second, larger tower near COBO. I'm guessing that the market could still absorb quite a few more rooms.

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For sure that would help the convention business. More hotels either in walking distance of Cobo,.. or better yet on the People Mover loop are a big help.

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Originally Posted by Bigdd

For sure that would help the convention business. More hotels either in walking distance of Cobo,.. or better yet on the People Mover loop are a big help.

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And with the tram coming to fruition next year, a case that conventioneers can actually go and visit our Cultural Center and more shopping and restaurant options without having to have a car. Or stay at a place like Hotel St. Regis or the Inn on Ferry Street and be able to get downtown easier.

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Originally Posted by Bigdd

So they're going to import the interior from Switzerland and the exterior from China and put the two together when they arrive? LOL

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Very original joke.

Great news for this block of Woodward! That area south of the Jazz party store has become a haven for loiterers who like to take up the whole sidewalk and make getting by them awkward. Hopefully this encourages some development in the smaller buildings as well. I always loved that extremely narrow Singer building there.

Also, does anyone know why the windows in 1400 were bricked over and what look like little golden treasure chests put on them? I thought maybe a pawn shop had been in this location at some point and made these changes.

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Originally Posted by K-slice

Great news for this block of Woodward! That area south of the Jazz party store has become a haven for loiterers who like to take up the whole sidewalk and make getting by them awkward. Hopefully this encourages some development in the smaller buildings as well. I always loved that extremely narrow Singer building there.

Also, does anyone know why the windows in 1400 were bricked over and what look like little golden treasure chests put on them? I thought maybe a pawn shop had been in this location at some point and made these changes.

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It was a Meyer jewelry store, their gimmick was the treasure chest. It's been bricked up since at least the 1960s.

Not much I can say about street people without sounding like an entitled little brat, so I'm just gonna deal with them. I still have no change or I will walk on by.

All this makes me wonder what the thinking is in the Ilitch organization's secret star chamber over the Eddystone and the American aka Fort Wayne Hotels. I recall the plan for Eddystone is residential. I can't believe the American will be allowed to remain a blighted eyesore for long. It would seem ideal for hotel conversion.

I would expect the 'build out' from around the arena to occur say in 2019 and 20.

We're seen speculation that the Eddystone would be worked on in 2018.

Then I think we'll see rehabs along Temple following completion of the Eddystone work.

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Originally Posted by 401don

I'm surprised downtown Detroit is strong enough to support 4 boutique hotels. The big chains handle most corporate business and I assumed a lot of the boutique business would go to downtowns that have a lot of tourists and a lot of residential where people visit friends & family. Downtown Detroit still does not have the wide variety of smaller businesses that might also place people doing business with them in these types of hotels. However I guess the 4 hotels only add about 600 rooms.

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The Aloft hotel in the Whitney, and the proposed Element Hotel in the Metropolitan are both part of Starwood hotels, which means they will definitely get their share of the corporate business travel. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of the Foundation, Wurlitzer, or Shinola hotels ends up pairing with a boutique brand in one of the major chains as well, to help with booking.

Glad to see DG doing his thing with more development and Shinola tieing into the city some more. Noho restaurants are highly recommended in NYC as well.

I'm a little worried about brand overreach. I bought my wife a Shinola the other day, they're beautiful timepieces and classy. They need to keep that classy fine line going and not blast the name on ever possible product but I think this can work. Just don't use the building as a gaudy billboard.

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Originally Posted by EGrant

Very original joke.

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What's the hotel equivalent of a Timex Weekender watch because I'd rather stay there? 1/15 the price and a better product.

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Originally Posted by TTime

What's the hotel equivalent of a Timex Weekender watch because I'd rather stay there? 1/15 the price and a better product.

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And "Where time flies when you are having fun..." :)

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Originally Posted by TTime

What's the hotel equivalent of a Timex Weekender watch because I'd rather stay there? 1/15 the price and a better product.

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Yes, but it kept on ticking and that kept me up all night.

Some interesting data on the state of the hotel market. The article further goes on to say that downtown could use another large hotel like the proposed Crowne Plaza expansion to make more attractive to convention planners. It mentions beyond increased demand from conventions that one the demand drivers is simply more people living in area their visitors need a place to stay.

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The Shinola Hotel project, announced last week, is the latest in a string of hotel projects planned or underway in downtown Detroit.

While increasing investment in the city is good news, it raises the question: Can Detroit support the number of hotel projects planned and under consideration for the central business district?

Experts say yes. There's demand for 800 to 1,000 more rooms downtown in the next two to three years.

With the increasing population, activity and corporate presence downtown, there is undoubtedly support for additional rooms, said Mike O'Callaghan, COO and executive vice president of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Detroit's downtown hotel occupancy and average daily rates are up this year, bucking the declines cities including Chicago, Pittsburgh and Cleveland have seen this year, O'Callaghan said.

Year to date through July, average daily occupancy for the 5,000 hotel rooms in Detroit's central business district was 67.6 percent, up from 66.3 percent for the same period of 2015, he said, referencing data from STR.

The average daily rate for the same period increased to $154, up from $148 for the first seven months last year and $141 for the period in 2014.

The occupancy number so far this year is about 1.5 percentage points better than the counties of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb, O'Callaghan said.

In the years before Detroit's comeback, suburban hotels would fill up first. But now, the Detroit hotels are, and the overflow is going to the suburbs

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...ny-is-too-many

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Originally Posted by mikeg19

Based on a few recent articles outlining occupancy in Detroit, I sounds like the hotel business is strong downtown to support more hotels. And was mentioned, it's only going to add 500-600 new rooms.

The interesting thing about all the new hotel space downtown is whether or not that is going to help bring in more convention business to COBO. For years it was cited as a reason as to why Detroit wasn't in competition to grab more large conventions, aside from the deplorable conditions COBO was in only a few years ago. Now that COBO renovations are complete and new hotels coming online, I would hope that the convention planners are branching out to larger conventions to try to woo them to come here.

The added hotel rooms should also help with regard to grabbing some major sporting events, namely the Big Ten College Football Championship game, an NHL all star game, more NCAA Tourney games, possibly another Super Bowl [[long shot), etc. Even a major music festival that draws 50,000-100,000 people like Coachella could be something.

Anyone around here who has tried to book hotel rooms downtown during an event knows it's pretty hard to get a decent room. Even weekends during the summer can be hard to get a room. I used to think adding too many hotel rooms would spell doom, but it seems like we've gone past that point and can support more rooms.

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I'm not a NHL fan, but what is the situation with NHL all-star game commitments for the future?

How far advance have cities been selected?

Update! Looks like we wont have to worry about the future of the Jazz or it's clientele being a drag on the new hotel anymore. I am very happy they're keeping the Singer building due to it's tall and very narrow footprint.

It will also be interesting to see what kind of construction they are planning for the block facing Farmer.

http://detroit.curbed.com/2016/10/13...wntown-bedrock

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Originally Posted by K-slice

Update! Looks like we wont have to worry about the future of the Jazz or it's clientele being a drag on the new hotel anymore. I am very happy they're keeping the Singer building due to it's tall and very narrow footprint.

It will also be interesting to see what kind of construction they are planning for the block facing Farmer.

http://detroit.curbed.com/2016/10/13...wntown-bedrock

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It will also be interesting to see how quickly demo and construction start. This one is appearing to be on a faster track.

Not directly related to the hotel, but I was in Detroit last week and purchased a Shinola watch.

Attachment 31853

I'd like to get one as well, but I fell like the price point is off. I have a few decent watches in my collection with a similar style, but about half the price of a Shinola. I wish they were in that $200-$400 range, not close to $1000

So the Singer Building in its entirety will be saved and the other two demolished and rebuilt as new building? Is that what I'm understanding it as?

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

So the Singer Building in its entirety will be saved and the other two demolished and rebuilt as new building? Is that what I'm understanding it as?

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Close.... 3 will be demolished... the 2 to the left of the Singer [[including that brown one), and the one to the right of it.

Looking forward to the Architectural drawings...

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Originally Posted by Gistok

Close.... 3 will be demolished... the 2 to the left of the Singer [[including that brown one), and the one to the right of it.

Looking forward to the Architectural drawings...

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Ah! Thanks for clarification! For some reason, I always thought the small building directly next to 1400 was rather endearing. Unlike Illitch's buildings, this one at least has a plan for new facades, so that's good.

They've demo'd one of the buildings on Woodward. Saw the hole in the streetwall from Farmer. That parking lot behind Lofts at Woodward is also cleared.

Are they building on the gravel lot behind Queens Bar too, or just the parking lot behind Lofts at Woodward?

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Originally Posted by Rock N Rye

Are they building on the gravel lot behind Queens Bar too, or just the parking lot behind Lofts at Woodward?

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They have both of those sites fenced off as one big site. Not sure the final plans though.

It's interesting that in the renderings, the facade of the hotel looks exactly like the current facade of the buildings that are being knocked down. Is there a reason they decided to knock down the facade? I understand blowing out the rest of the buildings innards, but did they cite specifically why the facade facing Woodward needed to be taken down for an almost exact reproduction? I'd be interested to see why they proceeded that way.

Except that the new facades are completely different aside from the Singer Building which is being spared.

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Originally Posted by mikeg19

It's interesting that in the renderings, the facade of the hotel looks exactly like the current facade of the buildings that are being knocked down. Is there a reason they decided to knock down the facade? I understand blowing out the rest of the buildings innards, but did they cite specifically why the facade facing Woodward needed to be taken down for an almost exact reproduction? I'd be interested to see why they proceeded that way.

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New renderings that I had not seen before today:

Attachment 34570

Attachment 34569

Attachment 34571

Attachment 34572

Drool! Can't wait for the Farmer St. fronts to bring some urbanity to that location.

Wow I'm so glad they're filling that whole block on Farmer! They clearly took some cues from the Bowery Hotel in NYC [[which is awesome).

https://www.google.com/search?q=bowe...w=1600&bih=809

I'm sure we will see a nice Shinola Detroit store along Woodward, with other retailer along Farmer st. and the activated alley between the two buildings.

Holy moly that looks STUNNING. I love it, gilbert yet again knocks it out of the park. Having that and the wurly and the metropolitan building all be up and running in 2018 is going to be incredible for that section of downtown. 3 boutique hotels all coming soon! with incredible and charming architecture that is a great nod to detroits heritage

These are incredible renderings. Very excited to see the Farmer St. side come to life and the alley too!

First off those renderings are BEAUTIFUL. Second, with this hotel, the Metropolitan, Wurlitzer and Hudson's coming soon[[ish), how much of a great bet did the owners of Queens Bar make? Right in the center of complete renovations.

This does look very, very cool.

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Originally Posted by Van Dyke Brown

New renderings that I had not seen before today:

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would you mind sharing your source?

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Originally Posted by EGrant

First off those renderings are BEAUTIFUL. Second, with this hotel, the Metropolitan, Wurlitzer and Hudson's coming soon[[ish), how much of a great bet did the owners of Queens Bar make? Right in the center of complete renovations.

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so can the creepy puppet store be replaced too?

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Originally Posted by hybridy

so can the creepy puppet store be replaced too?

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That's actually a puppet theatre that's a hidden cultural gem and is in the process of moving. But whatever...

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Originally Posted by hybridy

would you mind sharing your source?

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They are displayed on the fencing surrounding the property which was updated yesterday.

The puppet theatre is actually really cool. Not everything has to be retail or a bar. Didn't know they were moving.

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Originally Posted by EGrant

The puppet theatre is actually really cool. Not everything has to be retail or a bar. Didn't know they were moving.

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http://www.detroitnews.com/story/new...ars/549416001/

Edit: They've been gone since August.

update: with pics

really think this hotel is going to do so much for the vibe and look of lower woodward downtown. taking half a block of empitness and turning it into arguably what will be the most luxurious and possibly most expensive hotel in downtown. activating the retail spaces in the ground floors on woodward is going to be amazing. the looks and details in these pictures are stunning, and i'm so excited to be able to see this in my city that i love so much.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/detroit...ola-1531845019


https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/...0711123732.jpg

https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/...0711125930.jpg

https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/...0711123724.jpg

I love the way that lower Woodward is taking shape. A mixture of retail, offices, and living. I just hope that us common folk are not shut out from shopping downtown when all of the stores open in a few years. I still feel that a good furniture store such as Art Van, Restoration Hardware, or Bright Ideas are needed in the downtown area. I don't really care for the furniture stores on Jefferson especially if one sell hub caps and rims for cars. I will jump for joy when Apple announces opening a store downtown. Downtown would have to beef up it's security so that Apple and others stores will be attracted to downtown Detroit

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Originally Posted by stasu1213

I love the way that lower Woodward is taking shape. A mixture of retail, offices, and living. I just hope that us common folk are not shut out from shopping downtown when all of the stores open in a few years. I still feel that a good furniture store such as Art Van, Restoration Hardware, or Bright Ideas are needed in the downtown area. I don't really care for the furniture stores on Jefferson especially if one sell hub caps and rims for cars. I will jump for joy when Apple announces opening a store downtown. Downtown would have to beef up it's security so that Apple and others stores will be attracted to downtown Detroit

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I agree to a point. Apple Stores are getting robbed in a lot of other cities, so it's not just about crime in Detroit.
If I remember correctly ,apples stores in Atlanta , Vegas, No California and So Cal, and that's just off the top of my head with googling. I'm sure in a bunch of other cities apple stores have been hit and in Malls, so they do just fine in downtown Detroit.

yeah really don't think there's any more of a problem downtown compared to any other major city. there's PLENTY of police presence/ cameras/ bedrocks extra security all already downtown. i don't think that fear of robbery is holding apple back whatsoever. i do think that apple will have a prominent store front in the hudson site.. i think if they took the corner spot across the shinola hotel they would be tremendously successful.

downtown needs an apple store badly. it would serve all of detroit [[think of all the wayne state students/ ferndale/ greater downtown residents that have all recently moved in.. as well as all of dearborn/ downriver/ grosse pointe

i'm confident we'll see an apple store announced within the next few years// and most likely at the hudson site

Some retail news for the Shinola development...

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...ource=facebook

"The price point for items will be $250 or less," she said. "I want it to be affordable."

Her and I have different definitions of that word, and I make a good amount of money. ��

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Originally Posted by DetroitSoldier

"The price point for items will be $250 or less," she said. "I want it to be affordable."

Her and I have different definitions of that word, and I make a good amount of money. ��

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A $250 max price point is actually quite reasonable for a store in a luxury boutique hotel.

"Luxury customers spent an average of $910 at the hotel they visited most frequently over the past 12 months."

https://news.gallup.com/businessjour...el-guests.aspx

.... so when will this place open? When will there be permanent jobs posted?

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Originally Posted by Towne Cluber

A $250 max price point is actually quite reasonable for a store in a luxury boutique hotel.

"Luxury customers spent an average of $910 at the hotel they visited most frequently over the past 12 months."

https://news.gallup.com/businessjour...el-guests.aspx

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Is this going to be a "Luxury" hotel? All the Google searches only mention "luxury" for Shinola watches, and not the hotel. I only find mentions of it as a boutique hotel? Just curious....

These are good choices of stores that are opening. I am glad that these stores are opening on the east side of Woodard to give it more of a balance. My concern is that the Woodward bus stop had been reinstalled along Woodward. I don’t mind the convenience of catching the Woodward bus but Iam concern about the unwanted aggressive panhandlers, loiterers, and troublemakers selling drugs and other things at these bus stops making running away potential customers from going into these businesses. This was a bad move by the city to reinstall the bus stops without heavy police presence as a deterrent.

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Originally Posted by stasu1213

These are good choices of stores that are opening. I am glad that these stores are opening on the east side of Woodard to give it more of a balance. My concern is that the Woodward bus stop had been reinstalled along Woodward. I don’t mind the convenience of catching the Woodward bus but Iam concern about the unwanted aggressive panhandlers, loiterers, and troublemakers selling drugs and other things at these bus stops making running away potential customers from going into these businesses. This was a bad move by the city to reinstall the bus stops without heavy police presence as a deterrent.

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I rode that route [[formerly 53, now 4 I think) dozens and dozens of times and never would I consider any of those bus stops hotbeds for panhandlers or drug dealers. Most people board at Rosa Parks anyway

Those drug dealers and panhandlers would sprinkle over to those bus stops knowing that people with money will be going in and coming out of those store

Is it just me or is anyone upset by the loss of all of the Wig stores that used to exist in the lower Woodward Corridor? To see the downfall of these stores with their replacements being a mix bag of higher end retailers is depressing. Part of my childhood is being erased! I remember as a kid, mom and dad would take me downtown and I would see all of the Wig stores and even a few athletic apparel stores downtown. The boarded up JL Hudson building and the fancy people statues on Woodward in the 80s and 90s were always the signs that we were downtown! Also can’t forget the red metal pedestrian mall with the half burned out ball lights on Washington Blvd in front of the glorious abandoned Book Cadillac and Statler. Downtown was so relaxed and quiet back then. On the weekends it was said you could shoot a cannon down any downtown street and not hit a single person. Now those were the days..

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Originally Posted by cmubryan

Is it just me or is anyone upset by the loss of all of the Wig stores that used to exist in the lower Woodward Corridor? To see the downfall of these stores with their replacements being a mix bag of higher end retailers is depressing. Part of my childhood is being erased! I remember as a kid, mom and dad would take me downtown and I would see all of the Wig stores and even a few athletic apparel stores downtown. The boarded up JL Hudson building and the fancy people statues on Woodward in the 80s and 90s were always the signs that we were downtown! Also can’t forget the red metal pedestrian mall with the half burned out ball lights on Washington Blvd in front of the glorious abandoned Book Cadillac and Statler. Downtown was so relaxed and quiet back then. On the weekends it was said you could shoot a cannon down any downtown street and not hit a single person. Now those were the days..

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I remember talking to a camera shop owner in the Penobscott Building during the week before the superbowl. I had asked him why he or other businesses don't open on the weekends especially this weekend before the Superbowl. His reply was "Downtown is a ghost town on the weekends and he and other businesses won't make any money. Many Superbowl participants were desperately looking for places to buy cameras, clothing, outerwear, etc only to be told that they had to travel to the suburbs to purchase those items. It was sad that Detroit after 10 years of the announcement that the Superbowl was coming wasn't even prepared for it. I remember the downtown of the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. A place where there were places to shop and eat on the weekends as well. The boarded storefronts, panhandlers, and closed for the weekends businesses didn't appeared on Woodward until the 1990s.

I still feel that downtown doesn't need a big box store such as Hudson's was to make it a total downtown. More individual tasteful shops and boutiques would make it complete as well as a movie house or multplex. Little Ceasars Arena had enough space to have a multi screen theatre inside of it but opt out. I would love to see more midde end stores opening downtown such as H&M, Columbia, Levi Strauss or Guess, Urban Outfitters, and a See Optical. Also reserved or free parking should be given to employees of these stores. I had talked with one of the suburban stores of why it won't open a store in Downtown. She had said that the owner doesn't want his employees to have to pay for parking so he will not open a shop in the downtown midtown area. Dan Gilbert and city planners should work on that problem if they want to attract more retail into downtown and midtown Detroit

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Originally Posted by stasu1213

Dan Gilbert and city planners should work on that problem if they want to attract more retail into downtown and midtown Detroit

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It's not on Dan Gilbert and city planners to provide adequate regional transit. That's on the voters who keep rejecting anything other than a 10 lane highway.

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Originally Posted by cmubryan

Is it just me or is anyone upset by the loss of all of the Wig stores that used to exist in the lower Woodward Corridor? To see the downfall of these stores with their replacements being a mix bag of higher end retailers is depressing. Part of my childhood is being erased! I remember as a kid, mom and dad would take me downtown and I would see all of the Wig stores and even a few athletic apparel stores downtown. The boarded up JL Hudson building and the fancy people statues on Woodward in the 80s and 90s were always the signs that we were downtown! Also can’t forget the red metal pedestrian mall with the half burned out ball lights on Washington Blvd in front of the glorious abandoned Book Cadillac and Statler. Downtown was so relaxed and quiet back then. On the weekends it was said you could shoot a cannon down any downtown street and not hit a single person. Now those were the days..

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hmm... how prolific are wig stores now? something of a niche item, perhaps, sold at general beauty/hair stores, also online, of course.

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Originally Posted by Hypestyles

hmm... how prolific are wig stores now? something of a niche item, perhaps, sold at general beauty/hair stores, also online, of course.

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.......wow!

Downtown Detroit, [[Gliberttown Detroit) does not have Bloomingdale's, Sears, Kerns, Crowley's, Hudson's, Federal's Winkelmann's, Kresge's,Parisian, Von Maur, Neiman Marcus, Macy's ect... But at least have a Shinola Boutique Hotel and shiny retail to go along with it.

I probably wouldn’t want a big box store to dominate downtown due to the way most of them offiling bankruptcy and closing their satellites stores around the country. Independent stores are best for downtown now. I still need a housewares store that sells items for the home including linen, bath towels and clothes and kitchen wares. No, a dollar store wouldn’t do

https://www.shinolahotel.com

website is up and running with tons of new info and pictures of the guest rooms. some of the rooms look absolutely stunning! this place deserves a staycation.

https://www.shinolahotel.com/gallery

also more news about their new restaraunts and bars opening in the hotel

1. san morello - main spot that is fronting woodward. italian fine dining, the marquee restaurant in the hotel

2. evening bar - hotel bar open late on weekends

3. the brakeman beer hall - this is the ground floor in the annex building facing farmer street

4. penny reds - didn't hear about this one before, it's a 'fried chicken' spot located somewhere right next to the brakeman beer hall

these restaraunts and bars, combined with the new good neighbor retail shop, new shinola store, le labo, madewell, drought, the new activated alley, plus [[what looks to be) a high scale five star hotel all activating a once complete dead zone downtown [[AND new construction on a parking lot!)... absolute dream scenario. looking forward to see it completely up and running. i would imagine the hotel should have a soft opening any day now, with being fully up and running in time for the auto show

Superb. I feel proud and wish the developers the best of success

That's fucking amazing they named the alley after a man with such a story. Love it!

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Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

That's fucking amazing they named the alley after a man with such a story. Love it!

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Via the site:

"While currently nestled in the city’s shopping district, its namesake honors a history long before the bustling storefronts of Woodward. The alley name is an homage to Thomas Parker, a free black man who became one of the first black landowners in the city of Detroit. He obtained the lot for $1 in a land drawing after Detroit’s Great Fire of 1805, which decimated the city."

Absolutely brilliant.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EGrant

Via the site:

"While currently nestled in the city’s shopping district, its namesake honors a history long before the bustling storefronts of Woodward. The alley name is an homage to Thomas Parker, a free black man who became one of the first black landowners in the city of Detroit. He obtained the lot for $1 in a land drawing after Detroit’s Great Fire of 1805, which decimated the city."

Absolutely brilliant.

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Thanks! I was being lazy on my phone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EGrant

Via the site:

"While currently nestled in the city’s shopping district, its namesake honors a history long before the bustling storefronts of Woodward. The alley name is an homage to Thomas Parker, a free black man who became one of the first black landowners in the city of Detroit. He obtained the lot for $1 in a land drawing after Detroit’s Great Fire of 1805, which decimated the city."

Absolutely brilliant.

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That's totally awesome, glad attention to history was made.

... well, I guess it's pet friendly-- kudos-- but should the first thing they show is a dog running down the hallway and jumping on the bed? lol.. some people are feeling pets, some aren't.. ;)

Yeah as someone who isn't a big dog person, I had to cringe a little when fido jumped on the bed.

who's the target clientele? people who typically stay at the Townsend? Siren perhaps?

is DG targeting all the sports teams and musicians that will be playing LCA?

That San Morello italian restaurant was open restaurant last night and was already packed! Several other nearby bars were packed last night, including the Cornerstone, the Queens bar, and Punchbowl Social. Downtown is definitely looking up!

I can't wait for the other spots in this hotel to open up. The list of businesses in this development is impressive:

1. Madewells [[women's clothing)
2. Shinola store [[watches & bikes)
3. Drought [[juicery/smoothies)
4. Madcap Coffee [[a coffee cafe from Grand Rapids)
5. Evening Bar - Cocktail bar
6. Brakeman - beer hall
7. Penny Red's - fried chicken joint
8. Le Labo - fragrances
9. San Morello - southern Italian food
10. Good Neighbor - locally-owned clothing boutique

^^
So exciting. I’ve been spending a bit of time down here lately working on the rental. Downtown is really alive.
Put your hands up for Detroit
https://youtu.be/SYs2HHYqmxw

That only ass backward thing that Shinola is doing I’d opening it’s hotel on January 2 instead of before New Years when they would had been well booked. I got the feeling that politics is involved for the reason of the delayed opening

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Originally Posted by stasu1213

That only ass backward thing that Shinola is doing I’d opening it’s hotel on January 2 instead of before New Years when they would had been well booked. I got the feeling that politics is involved for the reason of the delayed opening

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Maybe they want opening day to be on a less busy, lesser profile night. Much better and easier to get any opening night issues worked out on a slow day rather than over New Years Eve.

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Originally Posted by Atticus

Maybe they want opening day to be on a less busy, lesser profile night. Much better and easier to get any opening night issues worked out on a slow day rather than over New Years Eve.

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I would agree had they opened in the middle of November. Not in December where the hotel could had opened on the first of December and issues could had been worked out but Christmas. No highly advertised hotel would want to miss out on the opportunity to make a killing especially around the Christmas holidays. Hopefully they could get the auto show crowd that if politics don't step in to prevent that from happening

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stasu1213

I would agree had they opened in the middle of November. Not in December where the hotel could had opened on the first of December and issues could had been worked out but Christmas. No highly advertised hotel would want to miss out on the opportunity to make a killing especially around the Christmas holidays. Hopefully they could get the auto show crowd that if politics don't step in to prevent that from happening

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What politics are you talking about?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stasu1213

I would agree had they opened in the middle of November. Not in December where the hotel could had opened on the first of December and issues could had been worked out but Christmas. No highly advertised hotel would want to miss out on the opportunity to make a killing especially around the Christmas holidays. Hopefully they could get the auto show crowd that if politics don't step in to prevent that from happening

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Hotels are dead in December. This isn't NYC. Just go on Priceline and check the rates for any night except New Year's Eve.

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Originally Posted by SammyS

What politics are you talking about?

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The stalling or prolonging of a business or retail way past expected opening date so that the favoured business or retail could make that profit for the holiday or event

^That's a tinfoil hat conspiracy theory, not politics.