Black Friday, Small Saturday in the D

[Strong]

I want to see how this goes!

In recognition of the upcoming Black Friday and Small Saturday, I want to give a shout out to the retail businesses in Detroit. And, I'm not just looking for barber and beauty shops, gas stations and convenience stores.

Avenue of Fashion-Livernois at Outer Drive


I know of some stores that have been operating for a number of years and I try to support them. So maybe someone will list a store that most people don't know of and maybe some pessimist will give them a try.

[Strong]

I am impressed with Gardella Furniture store on Gratiot at Chene. Very nice quality and at reasonable prices.
History

Opened in 1939 by Louis Gardella Sr.. At that time the store was hardware, paint and furniture. Approximately 1950, Joseph Gardella Sr. purchased the store from his father and ran it for the next 40 years, steadily improving it over time.
In 1993 the store’s current owner Gary Gardella, purchased the store from his father Joseph, upgraded the buildings, and changed the focus of the store. targeting savvy mid to high end furniture buyers, Gardella has been drawing furniture buyers from all over Michigan and the lower 48 states. According to the owner, Gary Gardella, the stores resurgence has occurred through providing the best furniture values in metro Detroit.

[Hermod]

I want to see how this goes!

In recognition of the upcoming Black Friday and Small Saturday, I want to give a shout out to the retail businesses in Detroit. And, I'm not just looking for barber and beauty shops, gas stations and convenience stores.

wig shops, liquor stores, check cashing stores, payday loan offices, pawn shops..........

[Strong]

We have one of the finest jewelers in the country, Simmons and
Clark


Started in 1925, Fred Simmons and Harry Clark established Simmons & Clark Jewelers on Broadway in downtown Detroit, Michigan. They met while working for another jeweler. They borrowed $5,000.00 and opened their store in October just in time for the busy holiday season. They were a hit and never looked back.
As one of the original credit jewelers in the country, Simmons & Clark began offering payment plans of $1.00 down and $1.00 per week till the balance was paid. Most of their first accounts were City of Detroit Police Officers. Fred and Harry had shown their generosity when in 1925 they donated $100.00 to the Widows and Orphans Fund for the family of a slain Detroit Police Officer. In addition, many other accounts were established from Fred going out and working the milk carts and the Ford Motor factory where Henry Ford was paying an unheard of $5.00 a day in wages.
Though Fred and Harry are gone now, the traditions began in 1925 are continued by Fred's son, George and grandson, Michael. "We have a great generational mix with old school service and reliability combined with the new technologies available to our industry" states Michael Simmons, 3rd generation owner of Simmons & Clark. We are proud of our past and we are excited about our future. [[quoted from http://www.simmonsandclark.com)

[Zacha341]

Well the employees that work at those places have to make a living too!

wig shops, liquor stores, check cashing stores, payday loan offices, pawn shops..........

[DetroitPlanner]

How about shopping at any one of the 41 Family Dollar stores, Nine Dollar General stores, Super K-mart, or Home Depot? And of course independants like National Dry Goods and Eastern Market. Maybe I will venture into Cheap Charlie's this holiday season.

[Strong]

How about supporting Moosejaw and if they are successful enough they'll stay?

[Downtown]

How about a visit to Dan "Mr. Anti-Corporate World" Tatarian's Showtime clothing on Woodward & Palmer? He's been dressing Detroiters since 1989.

[Danny]

Small businesses in Detroit is still alive and well. Please support them on Small Businesses Saturday. Those small Detroit businesses their ghettohoods are waiting for your support.

[Kathleen]

Check out these Midtown small businesses!!!

The Peacock Room
https://www.facebook.com/peacockroom
and Emerald, its sister pop-up gift boutique
Both are located in the Park Shelton on Woodward at Kirby, just north of the Detroit Institute of Arts

City Bird
http://www.ilovecitybird.com/
Nest
http://nestdetroit.com/
These side-by-side shops are located on W. Canfield between Cass and Second.

Hugh
Once the Detroit area's first pop-up shop, Hugh was the winner of the 2011 Hatch Detroit competition and is opening permanently in Midtown very soon!!!
Check them out in The Auburn on Cass at W. Canfield.
http://thankhugh.blogspot.com/

[Strong]

On Livernois between 7 and 8 Mile famously called "The Avenue of Fashion" there are a number of stores.
Simply Casual has some great prices on casual attire


And, there's Terry Enchanted Garden a florist that also carry a great selection of gift items

[stasu1213]

How about shopping at any one of the 41 Family Dollar stores, Nine Dollar General stores, Super K-mart, or Home Depot? And of course independants like National Dry Goods and Eastern Market. Maybe I will venture into Cheap Charlie's this holiday season.

I wish that Cheap Charlie's would sell new Dickies blue jeans such as National Dry Goods does. I would go to him all of the time. National Dry Goods will get my support this holiday. There is nothing on the Avenue of Fashion that draw my interest.

[stasu1213]

I might go to Hosiery with Style to buy a couple of conservative ties and a pair of socks

[Honky Tonk]

"Hosiery with Style"

Uh-huh......

[Bad Brains]

Not to change the subject, but this "in the D" stuff needs to stop. Everything from marketing or phrases seem to be "the D" these days. People think they are original by saying "..........in the D". There is even a radio station called "The D". We get it, the word Detroit starts with the letter "d". It's not cool, hip, original, or creative. Come up with something different.

[JVB]

You can support local Detroit businesses and charities online at Purchase.org. Similar to deal sites like Groupon and livingSocial, but based in Metro Detroit and focused on Metro Detroit. When you buy a deal you get to select a Detroit area charity and Purchase.org makes a 10% donation at no additional cost to the consumer. Shameless plug

[MidTownMs]

Not to change the subject, but this "in the D" stuff needs to stop. Everything from marketing or phrases seem to be "the D" these days. People think they are original by saying "..........in the D". There is even a radio station called "The D". We get it, the word Detroit starts with the letter "d". It's not cool, hip, originlal, or creative. Come up with something different.

I feel that same way when I hear someone say "The Joe" when talking about Joe Louis Arena.

[Zacha341]

AGREED! I always refer to it as Joe Louis Arena.

I feel that same way when I hear someone say "The Joe" when talking about Joe Louis Arena.

[poobert]

Not to change the subject, but this "in the D" stuff needs to stop. Everything from marketing or phrases seem to be "the D" these days. People think they are original by saying "..........in the D". There is even a radio station called "The D". We get it, the word Detroit starts with the letter "d". It's not cool, hip, original, or creative. Come up with something different.

How would out-of-shape dude-bros from Novi tell people where they're "from", then?

"I'm from the D, bro, Grand River for life"
"Grand River and what?"
"Grand River and Meadowbrook, dawg. Willowbrook Sub"

[Shollin]

How would out-of-shape dude-bros from Novi tell people where they're "from", then?

"I'm from the D, bro, Grand River for life"
"Grand River and what?"
"Grand River and Meadowbrook, dawg. Willowbrook Sub"

I tell people I'm from Sterling Heights. If someone asks where that is, I tell them it is a suburb of Detroit.

[Hermod]

Not to change the subject, but this "in the D" stuff needs to stop. Everything from marketing or phrases seem to be "the D" these days. People think they are original by saying "..........in the D". There is even a radio station called "The D". We get it, the word Detroit starts with the letter "d". It's not cool, hip, original, or creative. Come up with something different.

Its "D" like in Deeeeeeeetroit.

[Hermod]

As Tom Lehrer once sang "Angels we have heard on high. Tell us to go out and BUY!"

[p69rrh51]

How would out-of-shape dude-bros from Novi tell people where they're "from", then?

"I'm from the D, bro, Grand River for life"
"Grand River and what?"
"Grand River and Meadowbrook, dawg. Willowbrook Sub"

Poobert the flip side of that is I tell everyone I live in Grosse Pointe and nobody asks what city its close to. Usually I get how close to Detroit do you live.

[Strong]

There's some small business vendors under a tent in Campus Martius park.
I brought a few things after the tree lighting.

[marshamusic]

I post this annually on Facebook; I live in Lafayette Park so I mostly list shops nearby:


I love to shop and I shop in Detroit! Sometimes shops and boutiques in Ferndale, Royal Oak, or art fairs, festivals or artist venues like the RustBelt Market in Ferndale. I almost never shop at a mall. The Detroit is where I live, and I try to support those who support where I live.


New - Stef & Ty's!! The East Coast designers have made Detroit their home and are known for their funky hats and urban stylings. They just opened their new jazzy new space in the Iron Lofts.


New - Hugh! Joe Posch won the Hatch Prize and a lot of bucks to reopen his downtown pop-up as a new shop in Midtown. A sort of Mad Men era ambiance with men's haberdashery items and enough glass wear to open your own cocktail space.


New-Detroit Mercantile Company, on Russell in the Eastern Market district - Detroit themed vintage and antique whatnots, a sepia toned, rustic, elegant place.


Flo's - For the cool folks; Felecia has the place in the D for lagenlook Euro-style, high quality clothes, bags and hats. the only place in Detroit for the funky upscale, art-to-wear brands she carries.


The Peacock Room - For the girly girl in you. Rachel Lutz has exquisite offerings of clothes, jewelry and sundries; specializing in high quality vintage and new stuff. Like a new style room in the old Woodward Shops! At the Park-Shelton apartments, near the DIA. The Peacock Room is also in the Somerset CityLofts this holiday season. That leads me to:


Emerald: a NEW emporium of home sundries, gifts and men's haberdashery from the Rachel of the Peacock Room. Also at the Park-Shelton, but the Woodward entrance.


Offin River Boutique - before there was Flo's, before there was the Peacock Room - there was Offin Rivers. One of my very favorite clothing boutiques, I call it clothes for GROWN women. Lovely things for work, dress up and funky good times. Clothes and great accessories.


Savvy Chic - In the Eastern Market, on Riopelle [[That's 1 street east of Russell, on the block with the meat markets, behind Shed 3 I think). Karen has a lovely selection of beautiful things and gifty items. If you haven't been there you'll be stunned at this pretty place. Glass ware, home decor, vintage and cute stuff. Looks like a photo spread in Victorian magazine. It's been called a "bit of Paris in Detroit" [[cool, since Detroit was once called the Paris of the Midwest).


Soul Sisters - In Medical Center, on Canfield between John R and Woodward - A shoe store and a whole lot more - lots of bags, and jewelry gifts to be found; all kinds of accessories. My girl Powell Peabody in the house.


Mbad bead Museum - Beads and more for the creative, artsy person on your list, sold by the arts sage known as Dabls, at this internationally renown art installation of mirrored houses, on Grand River and West Grand Boulevard. I never miss a Christmas season without coming here [[or any other month, for that matter)


The Spiral Collective, on Cass and Willis includes:

Source Booksellers - Janet Jones book emporium; great books on many subjects, books are a great gift! - and she's getting ready to move across the street!

Tulani Rose - Sharon Pryors place for speciality soaps, small gift items, perfumes and body stuff, and

Dell Pryor - The grand diva of in arts and antiques in the D, art gallery and jewelry finds.


Avalon Bakery, of course; what's the holidays without sweets and treats?
Goodwell's health food store, next door, for a snack between stops


Djenne Beads - In Greektown, on Beaubien between Lafayette and Monroe, in the Atheneum - tall, elegant Mahamadou's place is an institution in Detroit - all manner of exotic beads, shawls, jewelry, clothes, African arts.


Interntational Institute: On John R. and Kirby, across from the DIA and CCS. A tiny shop in the International Institute, my friend Djana has opened up a place for her needlecraft and fiber art


International Bazaar - Those who know Geneva, know she has just moved, and is still in the New Center with her Art-to-wear and accessories.


Detroit Insitute of Arts Gift Shop - Always something beautiful to be found at the DIA museum shop. Other galleries - Center for Contemporary Crafts, in the Fisher Building; Detroit Artists Market on Woodward and Forrest. George N'namdi Center for Contemporary Arts, for the high-end collector.


Bizaar - High style clothes, shoes and accessories in the New Center One Building.


Dumouchelle Auctions - on Jefferson and Beaubien. I love this place, where you can find anything for auction, at about any price. Glorious, glorious stuff!


Textures: the elegant Nefertiti's natural hair salon that is also a day spa - with a facialist/aesthetician, masseuse and manicure/pedicures. Gift certificates available. A lovely place that rivals any shop in Birmingham for tasteful atmosphere and decor.


Spectacles - a pioneer staple of Downtown retail, Zana's little boutique on Grand River and Broadway, near Harmonie Park/Paradise Valley, has the coolest sunglasses, t-shirts, jewelry, sundries and funky clothes.


John King Books - old school used book store - one of the biggest in the US.


Rachel's Place - new! Cool, vintage place and in North Corktown area On Pine near 12th and Rosa Parks


Value World - used to be Value Village, quintessential grungy, no-bones resale store in the hood - but some gems can be found, for little 'a nothing.


Detroit Hardware Co. - This old fashioned hardware store place has been here forever, and has stayed long enough to be a part of the rennaissance of the New Center Area. On Woodward and Milwaukee; you can enter from the parking lot in the back. Lots of great housewares as well as fix-it stuff.


Somerset City Lofts - Experimental, pop-up shop, run by cool folks who want to see more high-style retail in the D; a collection of goods and goodies from Somerset Mall stores, on Woodward Ave across from where the old Hudson's building stood.


Style Gallery - although no longer in the New Center, Jackie has moved to Livernois' Avenue of Fashion and set up shop, some of my coolest things come from this place.


Sweet Potato Sensations - This is the FIRST bakery in the D where everything is made from Sweet Potatoes - and everything is good! On the "far west" side, Grand River and Lahser.


Noel Night - this year on Saturday, December 1, 2012. all the shops of Midtown and Downtown will be open and displaying their best.


I'm sure I left someone out, and if so, forgive me for an error of my head, not my heart. I've shopped at all of the; some I've left out because I haven't been there yet. All of these places are within 5 minutes or so from Downtown, and have items at very reasonable prices.



This list grows every year. Join me shopping in Detroit for the Holidays!