Temporary shops a way to help Detroit retail

Nero · December-25-17, 07:51 AM

Now this is a big deal!

Customers swarmed downtown Detroit's holiday pop-up shops this year

Vendors in the Detroit Downtown Markets, a marketplace of 30 temporary shops near Campus Martius and Capitol Park, reported doing such strong business in late November and early December that the markets' operations were extended by three weeks. This includes the small village of shops inside glass huts.

Downtown Markets will now run through Jan. 28, said Francesca George, director of tenant relations for the Bedrock real estate firm. Bedrock organizes the pop-ups marketplace and, along with other Dan Gilbert-companies in the Quicken Loans family, is behind the "Winter in Detroit" marketing campaign.

**401don** · January-02-18, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Nero

Now this is a big deal!

Customers swarmed downtown Detroit's holiday pop-up shops this year

Vendors in the Detroit Downtown Markets, a marketplace of 30 temporary shops near Campus Martius and Capitol Park, reported doing such strong business in late November and early December that the markets' operations were extended by three weeks. This includes the small village of shops inside glass huts.

Downtown Markets will now run through Jan. 28, said Francesca George, director of tenant relations for the Bedrock real estate firm. Bedrock organizes the pop-ups marketplace and, along with other Dan Gilbert-companies in the Quicken Loans family, is behind the "Winter in Detroit" marketing campaign.

Given the fricken cold weather, I wonder if it was a mistake to keep these pop-ups going until Jan. 28? I know the idea was to keep them open for the auto show and Winter Blast but will they really do business until then now that the holidays are over? I sure hope the heaters are good.

**O3H** · January-03-18, 11:50 PM

Will folks wander about after the AutoShow to see the pop-ups
in the intense January cold weather ? Are the deals really that great ?

**dtowncitylover** · January-04-18, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by O3H

Will folks wander about after the AutoShow to see the pop-ups
in the intense January cold weather ? Are the deals really that great ?

There might be deals, but most of these shops have unique and fun items. They're not Amazon on Black Friday. That's the draw of them.

I'm sorry, what's the negative of keeping these shops open into January? Are you some sort of communist, anti-entrepreneurial snowflake?

**O3H** · January-04-18, 12:00 PM

I play outside all seasons, all weather, they make clothes for that.
That also means I'm a very practical "shopper".
Stuff that works well, lasts long time, & I actually use, often, repeatedly.
I'm definitely not seeking out novelty items that just sit on a shelf.

**dtowncitylover** · January-04-18, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

I play outside all seasons, all weather, they make clothes for that.
That also means I'm a very practical "shopper".
Stuff that works well, lasts long time, & I actually use, often, repeatedly.
I'm definitely not seeking out novelty items that just sit on a shelf.

Good for you.

**O3H** · January-04-18, 01:45 PM

How about some pics of the """awesome stuff""
This forum allows photo's of Detroit's wonderful attractions, post .

**dtowncitylover** · January-04-18, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

How about some pics of the """awesome stuff""
This forum allows photo's of Detroit's wonderful attractions, post .

How about you go downtown and take a look around for yourself. Or do you like sitting in your recliner better?

**O3H** · January-04-18, 04:21 PM

I'm the skeptical type - In fact I'll say its probably crap, not worth the time.
You started with the name calling me a communist, anti-entrepreneurial snowflake.
I'm now out, find some other sucker to waste his/her time.
You've received a lesson in entrepreneuralism.....take it to heart

**dtowncitylover** · January-04-18, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

I'm the skeptical type - In fact I'll say its probably crap, not worth the time.
You started with the name calling me a communist, anti-entrepreneurial snowflake.
I'm now out, find some other sucker to waste his/her time.
You've received a lesson in entrepreneuralism.....take it to heart

Ok bye. [[You've taught me nothing about entrepreneurship)

**O3H** · January-04-18, 04:42 PM

And the rest of us learned nothing new about the pop ups
-- you're a genius marketer dtowncitylover, what else can be said............

**dtowncitylover** · January-04-18, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

And the rest of us learned nothing new about the pop ups
-- you're a genius marketer dtowncitylover, what else can be said............

Go down there and see them. They're marketplaces for merchants that don't have brick and mortar establishments. Some products are Detroit themed, some are just novel ideas like the clothing line for short guys that was featured on Shark Tank, and other little shops. You're the only one bitching about them lasting into January for no good reason.

**O3H** · January-04-18, 04:52 PM

Uh NO - you got it wrong. I was seeking enticement, some more info.
Reread what I typed. All I wondered if the cold snap would hurt sales.

**dtowncitylover** · January-04-18, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

Uh NO - you got it wrong. I was seeking enticement, some more info.
Reread what I typed. All I wondered if the cold snap would hurt sales.

And then you called it crap.

**O3H** · January-04-18, 05:41 PM

And until I see a picture of it being something else...it is

**JBMcB** · January-04-18, 06:12 PM

In any event, it's going back into the 30s and 40s next week, so that should help out foot traffic downtown.

Sometimes I think Minneapolis has the right idea: quite a few of their downtown buildings are connected via covered pedestrian bridges and tunnels.