DetroitPole, I don't think downtown needs to be a major shopping destination. Like Wolverine said, even in Chicago, 99% of the stores are not major retail stores. I think downtown's storefronts can be developed into other businesses though, such as bars and restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, music shops, dry cleaners, movie rentals, bakeries, doughnut shops, book stores, pharmacies, etc. Those things would improve the neighborhood dramatically. In fact, if downtown could replicate the local businesses that line Joseph Campau in Hamtramck, it would be fantastic.

I don't think downtown will ever be a shopping destination until Taubman builds his big outdoor mall next to Ilitch's new ice arena. A place like that could survive in the CBD because it could capture all of the sports fans, both local and out-of-towners, in one area.