GRAND OPENING! Bail Bonds on Woodward

**Gannon** · June-17-11, 09:01 PM

Just what this city needs...a bail bond business in the middle of what should be some of the highest-end retail/restaurant space.

This place is on Woodward, just a block or so north of Inside Detroit's Welcome Center...and tonight they were having their grand opening party, or else they will be operating as a blind pig, too. I couldn't quite tell, but it seemed some familiar faces were hanging around celebrating this joint's creation.

Not sure who's idea it was to locate away from any of the main places they'd actually be required...like near the 36th, or City Hall, or even the Federal Courthouse [[if they were going for the bigger fishies). It just seems ridiculous to me, but I've never had to do business with one of these establishments. Hope never to have to, either.

What does anyone else think of this?! A bail bonds business on the main drag in the city...what kind of message does this send to our visitors and potential investors?!

I wonder if they are exempt from the Federal reporting standards for >$10k cash deposits?! LOL. Could be Kwhyme's money launderer, right in plain sight.

**401don** · June-17-11, 09:12 PM

Obviously the optics of this are terrible, but then so are all those empty storefronts. I also don't understand why they want such a high profile location when there's tons of cheap empty spots closer to the "action".

**Scottathew** · June-17-11, 09:51 PM

Just about any investment in the Woodward corridor is a good thing. Yes, it doesn't make sense to me that they would be so far away from the courthouse either. But it's America, and they're investing in Detroit, so I wish them the best of luck!

**Gsgeorge** · June-18-11, 05:57 AM

It's funny to me how there is such a preponderance of nail salons, bail bonds businesses, and liquor/party stores in our city, yet finding a decent grocery store, bakery, or fruit market is nearly impossible outside of midtown. What is wrong with our city? We value nails, booze, and getting out of jail quick more than eating healthy and having a moderately decent quality of living.

**Zacha341** · June-18-11, 08:23 AM

LOL! Yeah, it's so annoying but it speaks to a demand: a bail bond joint for those needing such. I've just resigned myself to going out of the city for such sundries as produce, and other such necessities. Thank goodness we have eastern market and a few grocers who are hold forth.

Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

It's funny to me how there is such a preponderance of nail salons, bail bonds businesses, and liquor/party stores in our city, yet finding a decent grocery store, bakery, or fruit market is nearly impossible outside of midtown. What is wrong with our city? We value nails, booze, and getting out of jail quick more than eating healthy and having a moderately decent quality of living.

**erikd** · June-19-11, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by Gsgeorge

It's funny to me how there is such a preponderance of nail salons, bail bonds businesses, and liquor/party stores in our city, yet finding a decent grocery store, bakery, or fruit market is nearly impossible outside of midtown. What is wrong with our city? We value nails, booze, and getting out of jail quick more than eating healthy and having a moderately decent quality of living.

Gsgeorge,

I think you are being a little over-dramatic. A quick Google search for bail bonds in Detroit returns about 10 of them in the city, mostly located downtown. You seem to think this is because there is something fundamentally wrong with Detroit, or that city residents value bail bonds more than produce, but it seems much more likely that these bail bonds business are located here because downtown Detroit is the regional hub for law enforcement and courts.

Downtown Detroit features the DPD headquarters, Wayne County Sheriffs office, Wayne County Jail, Wayne County Juvenile Detention Center, Michigan FBI HQ, 36th District Court, Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, US District Court, US Bankruptcy Court, Wayne County Friend of the Court, etc. It makes perfect sense that there would be a cluster of Bail Bond services in the same area.

Concerning the ratio of party stores to grocery stores in the city, it varies greatly in different areas of the city, and also the suburbs, for that matter. The downtown, midtown, Mexican town, near east side, and east Jefferson corridor have a pretty good ratio of grocery stores to liquor stores. The ratio isn't as good in many other areas of the city, but the same is true of many suburbs. For example, Hazel Park has a ton of party stores, but only a few grocery stores.

As for the nail salon complaint, I don't understand why you would consider them to be a problem or detriment to a neighborhood. As far as I know, nail salons are not magnets for criminal activity, or prone to engaging in practices and behaviors that negatively impact the surrounding businesses and residents.

**gnome** · June-18-11, 05:58 AM

They own the building and couldn't find tenants so moved in ?

Nice signage. Rather tasteful. Not a hint of Detroit Party Store Yellow.

**Zacha341** · June-18-11, 08:24 AM

No "We Except EBT" [[misspelling deliberate) sign next to the one that says "MOET Sold Here"?

Originally Posted by gnome

They own the building and couldn't find tenants so moved in ?

Nice signage. Rather tasteful. Not a hint of Detroit Party Store Yellow.

**wolverine** · June-18-11, 10:36 AM

Awesome. I can't wait to visit Detroit. Actually, forget visiting, wouldn't it be awesome to live above a Bail Bonds store?

Gotta love the "any store is good for Detroit crowd." Alright, cool, glad you are so proud of that.

**Detroitej72** · June-18-11, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by wolverine

Gotta love the "any store is good for Detroit crowd." Alright, cool, glad you are so proud of that.

While I like to see any business open that pays taxes, I don't like to see certain businesses along a showpiece stretch of downtown.

**Zacha341** · June-18-11, 12:25 PM

Yes, that's the same thinking that got us stuck with three blood-sucking casinos there were so suppose to be such a benefit and employ so many people. Right.......

Originally Posted by wolverine

Gotta love the "any store is good for Detroit crowd." Alright, cool, glad you are so proud of that.

**MidTownMs** · June-18-11, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Yes, that's the same thinking that got us stuck with three blood-sucking casinos there were so suppose to be such a benefit and employ so many people. Right.......

I have never seen anybody forced to go into any of the casinos.

**downtown_racine** · June-18-11, 07:09 AM

A lot of snobs here got mad when a payday loan store opened up in a trendy part of revitalized downtown here, 7 years later its still there.

**Gannon** · June-18-11, 07:49 AM

Usurious money-lenders have been around since time-out-of-mind.

What are you saying, prepare to be pissed at this for YEARS?! LOL!

Last night when we first saw it, with the fenced-off outside tables FULL of folks...I thought it was another new BAR! I got closer and read the sign, Bail Bonds, and immediately thought, "what a strange name for a bar, but I've seen worse."

It wasn't until we walked back by that I realized it was actually just the grand opening party of a real bail bonds operation, the Notary Public sign in the front window gave it away. Not too many bars advertising Notaries...although I'm sure Gnome is going to tell me Tom's Tavern has two.

THAT is when it struck me how absolutely stupid it was to have this sort of business on the main drag...with basically no easy and free parking. Hell, the ONLY bail business I've even SEEN in town is that one joint kitty-corner from 1300, across from the Harbor House...and that only because when we step outside to smoke during gigs there, it is right in front of us. The buzz was always a bit better, for some reason, looking upon their sign and then to the Police Station...cannot explain it.

I'm standing on my first guess, since this IS Detroit...that they will largely operate as a blind pig and keep this Grand Opening party going at least all summer. Kick start their cashflow. I'm sure it will be good for their business, maybe they can offer free after-hours reloads to those thugs shooting up Larned and Congress and Broadway.

Cheers

**Richard** · June-18-11, 08:09 AM

Hmmmm is there space next door to place a strip club?

**Zacha341** · June-18-11, 08:20 AM

Or another "payday advance" joint. Ugh!

Originally Posted by Richard

Hmmmm is there space next door to place a strip club?

**MidTownMs** · June-18-11, 01:33 PM

The way I see it....that's just one less empty building on Woodward.

**ismoakrack** · June-18-11, 02:11 PM

This is tragic. I can't believe this type of business was approved for such a visible area. I totally disagree that this is better than an empty storefront.

**stasu1213** · June-18-11, 02:34 PM

This is another reason why the zoning commision should be brought before the council and raked over the coal on who the commision allow to set up shop in certain locations

**Richard** · June-18-11, 03:04 PM

LOL Zacha There was a main drag in Mlps Minn that was called Hennepin Ave in the 60s and 70s take a walk down there and it was everything I described above,historic movie palaces turned peep shows it was a buffet miles long of sin ,now it has once again become a source of pride for the city.

**DetroitPlanner** · June-19-11, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by stasu1213

This is another reason why the zoning commision should be brought before the council and raked over the coal on who the commision allow to set up shop in certain locations

The zoning commission would not even see this. It is a permitted use. I think the biggest outrage should be that the City's main street can only attract bail bondsman. You too can open up a store along Woodward providing that it is a permitted use without getting the ZBA involved.

**Richard** · June-18-11, 02:56 PM

^ Exactly . With all of the currant turmoil going on there are more and more standing up in taking pride in their city and starting to have a voice in the direction the city is going in and it shows,there are "outsiders" that have a certain distaste for Detroit and it was based on if the citizens do not care about the future of their city why should anybody else.

Unfortunately it is kinda starting out at the beginning and having to deal with aspects that would be considered the norm in any other city but when you start compiling all of the good that is happening here and there it is adding up pretty fast and sometimes it is hard to remember to set the foundations so the future is enjoyable by all,sometimes a quick fix has long term negative results.

**Zacha341** · June-18-11, 03:01 PM

You see... How many times when I argued that casino gaming would further trash Detroit the proponent would say to me "Well it's already trashed!" to which I would say "Thank you for proving my point..." Just like all of those fly-by-night sub-prime mortgage joints the sprung up like weeds in Detroit and Southfield. Same rationale, well at least they are businesses not empty lots. Thanks for your comments....

Originally Posted by Richard

^ Exactly . With all of the currant turmoil going on there are more and more standing up in taking pride in their city and starting to have a voice in the direction the city is going in and it shows,there are "outsiders" that have a certain distaste for Detroit and it was based on if the citizens do not care about the future of their city why should anybody else.

Unfortunately it is kinda starting out at the beginning and having to deal with aspects that would be considered the norm in any other city but when you start compiling all of the good that is happening here and there it is adding up pretty fast and sometimes it is hard to remember to set the foundations so the future is enjoyable by all,sometimes a quick fix has long term negative results.

**wolverine** · June-19-11, 03:55 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

^ Exactly . With all of the currant turmoil going on there are more and more standing up in taking pride in their city and starting to have a voice in the direction the city is going in and it shows,there are "outsiders" that have a certain distaste for Detroit and it was based on if the citizens do not care about the future of their city why should anybody else.

And where were they on this? Did the residents approve of this? Because either they did, or just didn't show up to a meeting. Does the city send out notices to residents when a new business locates within "x" number of feet of their home?

**Richard** · June-19-11, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by wolverine

And where were they on this? Did the residents approve of this? Because either they did, or just didn't show up to a meeting. Does the city send out notices to residents when a new business locates within "x" number of feet of their home?

Good questions,I found this site that covers from 6 mile up but my concern is outer rings eastside so my research is limited when it comes to Woodward

http://www.woodwardavenue.org/index.html

But I can speculate with limited knowledge.

I can see Woodward from 6 Mile to downtown becoming a destination once the rail is implemented,the kind of shops and stores that would probably fit there would be locally owned small businesses such as antique stores or collectables mixed with cafes maybe a cigar bar small business like that .the reason being would be is because as the downtown fills in the the rents will rise to the point it would not be profitable for these small shops to operate also it would give tourists a reason to stop and supplement the income of the shop owners.

City council = Who ever has that district needs to step up to the plate and start helping their constituents help themselves a lot of positive things can happen to better a neighborhood that does not cost anything. Send them emails the have staff that can get the ball rolling even if they do not take an interest.

Chain of command is your council representative then the mayor.

Look at this map and the areas it covers and why only those areas and last updated in 2009? Is it a currant board of directors?

https://www.detroitmi.gov/NextDetroi...1/Default.aspx

Vision
To transform Detroit neighborhoods into vibrant places for people to live, work, and play.

Mission
Our mission is to reinforce, revitalize, and redevelop targeted neighborhoods into thriving communities. We address quality of life issues by fostering community engagement and economic development activities, integrating city services that leverage public and private investments, linking people to resources and providing planning and project management solutions.

But it is all part of city planning to set the future, Strip clubs okay they pay taxes so lets set aside a section and they can only establish business in that zone.

Prevents future problems and sets the guidelines.