Mr. Song Takes Off to the Burbs

**g-dub** · April-25-09, 10:47 AM

Not sure what to make of this. A lot of people cheered this rare example of a small family-owned shop doing booming business in the city. Now, they're off to the burbs. Usually, it's the other way around: business is bad in the city, so you pick up and move to where there's more money [[and less crime), but they were doing quite well on Woodward by all reports. I can understand needing a larger space, and I'm sure they'll do good business in Southfield, but why not at least keep the original shop open while opening another location? Bummer.

http://freep.com/article/20090425/NEWS02/90425002

**R8RBOB** · April-25-09, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by g-dub

Not sure what to make of this. A lot of people cheered this rare example of a small family-owned shop doing booming business in the city. Now, they're off to the burbs. Usually, it's the other way around: business is bad in the city, so you pick up and move to where there's more money [[and less crime), but they were doing quite well on Woodward by all reports. I can understand needing a larger space, and I'm sure they'll do good business in Southfield, but why not at least keep the original shop open while opening another location? Bummer.

http://freep.com/article/20090425/NEWS02/90425002

I'm going on a limb and say that, the majority of this hat business live either in northwest Detroit or in the burbs. I guess the owners of this business realized that their customers simply don't live in the area of Woodward. Sad but it is what it is.

**j to the jeremy** · April-25-09, 12:16 PM

And they had just repainted their sign, unless I'm mistaken...

Too bad. That stretch of Woodward always seems like it's barely holding on to most of those stores. I hope someone moves into the space.

DetroitDad · April-25-09, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

I'm going on a limb and say that, the majority of this hat business live either in northwest Detroit or in the burbs. I guess the owners of this business realized that their customers simply don't live in the area of Woodward. Sad but it is what it is.

I disagree. Detroit is still viewed as a pit you should be trying to climb out of. I wouldn't be surprised if the boom in business was just a way for this family to finally get out of Detroit.

**thecarl** · April-25-09, 12:50 PM

where does aretha live?

**g-dub** · April-25-09, 12:55 PM

Aretha lives in [[or used to live in) Bloomfield, and she has [[or had?) a condo at Riverfront Towers.

**digitalvision** · April-25-09, 02:11 PM

Doesn't surprise me at all. DetroitDad is right, most people still view it as they've "made it" when they cross the other side of 8 mile.

I'm going to get flamed for this, but I gotta speak truth to power... Only the urban pioneers and [[mostly) white "T" semi-gentrified district [[Lafayette Park, CBD, Midtown, Corktown) folks look at it as a place to stay.

Most black families [[even in those nicer areas) I know want to get the hell or have left out of here as fast as possible. And let's be frank, I'm sure Mr. Song's focus clientele is middle-to-high income black.

I'm sure their core clientele has moved to Southfield and farther out. The move probably makes a lot of business sense.

**R8RBOB** · April-25-09, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitDad

I disagree. Detroit is still viewed as a pit you should be trying to climb out of. I wouldn't be surprised if the boom in business was just a way for this family to finally get out of Detroit.

I'm with you that quote about trying to get out of Detroit. However, I'm not trying to buy a hat and I have never been to that location. The guy Song is following his clientele who got out of Detroit and not coming back.