Downtown Under Armour Goes Under

**Lowell** · January-12-22, 05:26 PM

Roast is toast, now Under Armour. My guess is that the pandemic-induced decline in downtown workers and visitors is continuing to take a toll. Too bad.

Downtown Detroit's Under Armour Inc. store is permanently closing

An Under Armour spokesperson said in a Wednesday afternoon statement confirming the closure, which is effective Jan. 15, that it was "not an easy decision" but that it "consistently [[evaluates its) store footprint and [[makes) decisions according to our retail strategy."

The Under Armour Brand House closure will put a hole in the lower Woodward Avenue corridor's street-level retail scene, which has attracted big names like Nike Inc. — its main competitor — Lululemon, Warby Parker, H&M, Madewell and others in recent years.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...se-permanently

**401don** · January-12-22, 06:39 PM

Not really surprising. The store never had the traffic Nike did. Nike is really an outlet store and is priced lower. Under Armour needed those office workers to support its pricing and I think its demographic is more upper middle class compared to Nike, which is successful with a wider customer base.

**Satiricalivory** · January-12-22, 09:50 PM

Yeah it seemed kinda pointless being there while Nike exists.

May be unlikely but I think this would be a perfect spot for something like an Eataly.

**Danny** · January-12-22, 10:05 PM

Horrible!!! what a way to waste their money. Opening up their store and then close sooner. Goodbye Under Armor and good riddance. Plan of a new retail will be filling your space in Gilbertown Detroit.

COVID is killing some businesses in Detroit. And rich folks are b---chin about their businesses going under and losing tons of money. It's time for plan b Dan Gilbert and Team Rocket.

**DetroiterOnTheWestCoast** · January-13-22, 01:13 AM

Sorry to hear that. I shopped there on my last visit and bought a couple of things.

**Henry Whalley** · January-13-22, 03:53 AM

There's plenty not to like about Under Armour. The company has been boycotted since its founder endorsed Maralago Mussolini, even while sourcing its flammable clothing from low wage countries. In Baltimore it covered historic murals by Hildreth Meière [1892–1961]. There are too many unsavory aspects to mention.

P.S. I don't like its militarist name.

Under Armour - Wikipedia

**401don** · January-13-22, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Henry Whalley

There's plenty not to like about Under Armour. The company has been boycotted since its founder endorsed Maralago Mussolini, even while sourcing its flammable clothing from low wage countries. In Baltimore it covered historic murals by Hildreth Meière [1892–1961]. There are too many unsavory aspects to mention.

P.S. I don't like its militarist name.

Under Armour - Wikipedia

That's a little harsh. He took a chance on downtown before other national retailers, probably before the market was really ready, probably after strong nudging from Gilbert, and gave it 5 years. Nike and most national retailers hardly have a clean record for sourcing their clothing. And the name, seriously? You must really have a problem with Little Caesars.

**Henry Whalley** · January-13-22, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by 401don

...You must really have a problem with Little Caesars.

True, I prefer republics

**Danny** · January-13-22, 12:18 PM

Bring Louis Vuitton to Gilbertown Detroit.

**ShadowSoarer** · January-13-22, 03:13 PM

Hopefully they are going to be able to fill that space in the near future. Even the space where the Hard Rock Cafe used to be [[adjacent to Campus Martius) is still empty and that was pre-pandemic.

**masterblaster** · January-13-22, 05:26 PM

I made it a point to buy all of my running shoes from the downtown Under Armour store.

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

Yeah it seemed kinda pointless being there while Nike exists.

May be unlikely but I think this would be a perfect spot for something like an Eataly.

It provided another name-brand, quality retail option to downtown. Why question that? Nike isn't the be-all and end-all of athletic wear. There can be quality alternatives. Should people only wear Nike? Why?

This is sad. The dream to re-create the lower Woodward shopping district has taken a blow. The store was pretty nicely laid out, with 2 levels. I always saw customers in there when I visited.

**Rocket** · January-13-22, 07:16 PM

Until just 2-3 years ago, I didn't know what their symbol was.

I thought it was an "H".

I'd see this big H on banners at sporting events, and had no idea what it meant.

Turned out that H was actually a U-A, and they make underwear.

**Satiricalivory** · January-13-22, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by masterblaster

It provided another name-brand, quality retail option to downtown. Why question that? Nike isn't the be-all and end-all of athletic wear. There can be quality alternatives. Should people only wear Nike? Why?

Because downtown doesn't need half of an entire city retail block dedicated to sports clothing and accessories? It's unnecessary. Now something else can go here and offer better shopping variety. I'm sure it wont be long.

**stasu1213** · January-13-22, 08:48 PM

I hope that another useless urbane store doesn't open in that spot. Columbia sports wear could easily fill that spot

**Henry Whalley** · January-14-22, 04:12 AM

Originally Posted by Danny

Bring Louis Vuitton to Gilbertown Detroit.

Maybe stores, office buildings, shopping malls, churches, theatres, restaurants, casinos, i.e., most public spaces, are becoming extinct? I remember when Northland and Eastland opened, and the first time that downtown Detroit closed. Maybe life will become decentralized with shop from home, work from home, gamble from home, etc.?

**Honky Tonk** · January-14-22, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by Henry Whalley

Maybe stores, office buildings, shopping malls, churches, theatres, restaurants, casinos, i.e., most public spaces, are becoming extinct? I remember when Northland and Eastland opened, and the first time that downtown Detroit closed. Maybe life will become decentralized with shop from home, work from home, gamble from home, etc.?

There's a lot of truth in that post. Our work and shopping environment has changed and is still evolving. Other than hardware and groceries I don't even think about going to the mall and "looking around". I can shop and compare right at home, on the phone. Same with meetings and work. You can handle just about any problem on line, and you don't have to make 25 copies to hand out. Besides, how much crap do you really need to buy?

**401don** · January-14-22, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Henry Whalley

Maybe stores, office buildings, shopping malls, churches, theatres, restaurants, casinos, i.e., most public spaces, are becoming extinct? I remember when Northland and Eastland opened, and the first time that downtown Detroit closed. Maybe life will become decentralized with shop from home, work from home, gamble from home, etc.?

That sounds a lot more centralized.

**Bong-Man** · January-14-22, 10:47 AM

And take it all a step further. I have relatives working from home that suddenly realized 'home' is where they take their pc. They left the State this Winter for Florida, Arizona, and other warmer places. I also have a nephew who recently got a seven figure job with a finance company that doesn't own any physical property. Their entire operation is virtual, and they could care less where he lives. I don't see how either is a positive development for this area.

**Henry Whalley** · January-14-22, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by 401don

That sounds a lot more centralized.

Oops, thanks. I was writing before my first cup of coffee.

**Henry Whalley** · January-14-22, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Bong-Man

I don't see how either is a positive development for this area.

Agreed, they aren't positive, but they are the trend. Given the ubiquity of violence, plague, Americans, etc., public places aren't safe or pleasant. Civil life declined in dark-age Europe, and it's declining now in the U.S. Sad but true. Thank heaven for bongs...

**JonWylie** · January-14-22, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Henry Whalley

Agreed, they aren't positive, but they are the trend. Given the ubiquity of violence, plague, Americans, etc., public places aren't safe or pleasant. Civil life declined in dark-age Europe, and it's declining now in the U.S. Sad but true. Thank heaven for bongs...

Are you high right now?

**Henry Whalley** · January-14-22, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by JonWylie

Are you high right now?

No, my body won't tolerate anything stronger baby aspirin and stool softeners. Sad but true...

**royce** · January-15-22, 05:33 AM

It's unfortunate that the store was forced to close. I liked its layout and its lack of presence at that corner will be felt. I wonder if a fitness or gym-type operation could work there. Too small for LA Fitness but a smaller out fit might do well there. There are a number of smaller fitness stores downtown at the present. Maybe one of them would like to have a presence on Woodward and move there.

**ShadowSoarer** · January-15-22, 10:10 AM

This is just a rumor but was listening to a Daily Detroit podcast and they are still confirming with sources, but there might be another retailer announcement soon on Woodward. Somerset south wing was the hint.

**401don** · January-15-22, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Satiricalivory

Because downtown doesn't need half of an entire city retail block dedicated to sports clothing and accessories? It's unnecessary. Now something else can go here and offer better shopping variety. I'm sure it wont be long.

I think you should be pleased with pretty much any sort of downtown retail short of liquor, pot & dollar stores these days.
People wear sports clothing. Toronto has Nike, Under Armour, Puma, Adidas and Columbia stores downtown.