Retail Roundup
Real Best Of Detroit 2010, Best Local Retail Salesperson: Kellie Allen — Incognito
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Real Best Of Detroit 2010
Best Local Retail Salesperson: Kellie Allen — Incognito
For nine years, local shoppers looking to get their fashion fix have personally counted on Kellie Allen, 28, to be their style guide. Allen started working as an Incognito sales associate at age 19. “Ever since I was 13-years-old I loved the store,” Allen says. “I was always fascinated by the fun shoes and edgy clothes.” And she’s not the only one — in addition to the successful wholesale Incognito eyewear brand, the retail store’s been at the top of its game since its beginning at Fourth Street and Main Street in Royal Oak in the early '80s. They’ve since added an adjacent shoe and accessory store under the same name, launched an online store (goincognito.com) and completely remodeled the shop in 2008. “I’ve watched the store evolve in so many different ways over the years. It’s been really interesting to see how the fashion trends come, go and evolve as well.” Speaking of evolving style, Miss Allen herself has been known to have rocked a rainbow of different hair colors during the past decade, adding yet another funky element to the store. She’s been a vibrant redhead, is now a blonde beauty and for a long time, Allen was known as “Pinky” by customers for her long fuchsia locks.
But clothing is where her heart is. “I’ve always had a passion for fashion,” Allen says. “I love helping customers put their outfits together and making people feel good about themselves. I am true to my opinion and will let a customer know if something looks great and if it doesn’t. I think people appreciate my honesty.” We think she’s right. But how does she feel about them? “I love my customers!” she says. “My job would not be the same without them.”
Midtown is getting to be “that place.” The hip and blossoming Detroit hub’s latest retail addition, City Bird, owned by siblings Andy and Emily Linn, is a fantastic addition to Detroit shopping and adds that touch of interesting and handmade local love. Shop City Bird’s iconic Detroit-map drenched goodies from plates to votives or explore jewelry, housewares, paper goods and other fantastic gift options from Detroit creatives and beyond. City Bird has a large amount of cuteness for under 50 bucks; heck, they've got a whole slew of awesome stuff for less than 10. We can't leave out the small selection of vintage clothing that rounds out this store's appeal. This lil' boutique is doing a great job at letting the Motor City (Bird) soar.
This Royal Oak- based sneaker shop has become not only a spot to cop the latest kicks, but a hangout for sneaker enthusiasts and hip-hop heads from all over the map. Owners Rick Williams and Roland Coit have transformed it from a small store to a mega brand with Burn Rubber supporters rockin’ their fitted caps from the Motor City to MTV. The clientele is diverse and offers two wide walls full of sneakers for ladies and gents as well as fresh Ts, jackets, hoodies, hats and more from their own Burn Rubber brand to Crooks & Castles and 10 Deep. Just know this: you’re either down with BR or, well ... wickity-wack!
By core shop, we mean 100 percent skateboarding only — no bikinis and nothing that straps to your feet. At Refuge, lifelong skater and shop owner Eric “Z” Ziembowicz has not only created a pure skateboarding shop but also a place for young skate rats to hang out, watch videos, build ramps and learn to carry on the real meaning of skateboard culture. It’s all things shred in here from decks and trucks from Anti Hero to Alien Workshop, clothing, shoes and accessories from Four Star, Lakai, Nike SB, Vans, Emerica and more. Thanks to Refuge for staying true to the roots of skateboarding.
Sarah Lapinski has been making it work in Detroit since she started Wound Menswear in 2004. Six years later and now partner-less, Lapinski is running her own manufacturing company, Motor City Sewing, inside the Russell Industrial Center while cranking out freshness for Detroit fellas and beyond. After a successful Wound Spring/Summer 2010 runway collection inspired by Native American graphic art, the natural and spiritual world and sacred geometry at the DIA in December, Lapinski is fueled for the future. “To make it work in Detroit, you have to hustle, be open to all manner of opportunities and create your own, to keep the needles running and have a good time.” Lapinski says. She’s inspired by “my stylish, creative friends, dreams of what I want to wear, what is lacking in my closet and how I can retrofit it to menswear; a sound, a chair, a stray glance.” And sorry gals, it’s called Wound Menswear for a reason. “Working with men is great. It’s been interesting to see and hear what details matter and how similar the attention to detail is when dealing with women. Men represent an under-served market; they stay loyal to a brand if the brand stays true to their fit and styling, and they have good amounts of disposable income.” More: woundmenswear.com.
Artists flock to Utrecht for a reason. They’re genuine art supply stores — get your Bristol board, mixing mediums, non-repro pencils and rolls of canvas here — when the landscape is overrun with overpriced "craft" stores. With two locations (the Detroit one recently relocated further south), helpful staff and low prices, it’s easy to see why these guys have become the go-to for artists in The D. And a bonus: they actually swatch their paint on the displays, instead of leaving you to guess what’s in the tube. Logic!
The large, pale yellow, two-story building seems to sit alone on 7th Street in Royal Oak, but in a good way. Each visit is an entirely new experience for us as owner and self-proclaimed “salvage slave” Marisa Gaggino knows all things vintage, antique and awesome.
Explore tons of treasures and trinkets inside from local salvage materials-turned-furniture and other architectural artifacts that will undoubtedly make your crib the coolest one on the block.
It’s hard to mess with the best. In fact, we wouldn’t even suggest trying. Somerset Collection is metro-Detroit’s epicenter for all things in stellar shopping — from low-key to lavish. Housing something desirable for everyone from Sephora, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters and Nordstrom to Saks, Betsey Johnson, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus, it’s hard to go wrong and easy to go broke at Somerset. Don’t even get us started on the long list of cuisine — J. Alexander’s, Capital Grille — oh Somerset, you really are top notch.
Best Men’s Boutique: Carl Sterr
Once located in Detroit, then Grosse Pointe Farms and finally in Birmingham, this upscale men’s boutique defines haberdashery at its finest. Owner Carl Sterr, a gentleman of exceptional taste, is seasoned from a family of style-makers and it's evident in his exquisitely edited collection of fine men’s suits, shirts, shoes and accessories. Aside from shopping the high-style menswear in an intimate setting, clients take added joy in attending the frequent parties and gatherings at the shop.
Best Women’s Boutique: Shapes
Shapes has been on our Royal Oak radar for years now. In fact, a few of us got our prom dresses there way back when owner Treas Charow had her boutique on 11 Mile Rd. With its move to Main Street, Shapes has made itself a tad more accessible to Main Street foot traffic. This means more people may be hip to the shop now, but being spotted in the same garb isn’t entirely a problem since Charow is a wildly talented seamstress and can create the perfect custom dress for anyone.
Best Place For Designer Finds/Best Place For Designer Shoes: Tender
We’ve got to give it up for the local spots providing designer pieces (ala Jimmy Choo, Alexander Wang, Balmain, Miu Miu, Valentino, Lanvin and the likes) to metro-Detroit and not requiring us to step a single foot in the mall. The brains behind the elegant and elite two-store operation, sisters Cheryl and Karen Daskas, have a keen eye for what’s next, yet somehow not time sensitive, when it comes to wardrobe, shoes, handbags and more. 3,000-square-feet of fabulousness from upstairs and down, next-door and more, are what make Tender such a successful pinnacle of style.
Best Vintage Store: Lost & Found Vintage
There are vintage stores, and then there’s the palace of vintage perfection that is Lost & Found. The shop really is much more than three floors of carefully handpicked vintage from owner Tommy Dorr’s exciting (we’ve heard stories) excursions — it’s a place for vintage newbies to feel welcome, too. The darling staff knows (we’re still not quite sure how) all the stock and is most eager to help out whether you’re in the market for rad getup to wear on stage at an upcoming show, a fancy frock for a black tie party or dressing for an '80s-themed ladies night out. Don’t even get us started on their amazing selection of boots all year ‘round, many of which are deadstock, and the simple summer pleasures we like to call super affordable sundresses.
Best Place to Shop Designer Vintage: Chi-Chi and the Greek
I know what you’re thinking — um, coveted designer goodies in Waterford? As much as we love that part of town, it’s just not the first area we’d peg to score high-end vintage wear. Until now. Kelly “Chi-Chi” Johnson (and her hubby, “the Greek”) have got such a hidden gem on Elizabeth Lake Road that even after shopping there time after time, we drive past it. Thankfully though, Chi-Chi can be shopped online at chichiandthegreek.com, so in case you miss the unassuming store, you can still nab the vintage St. John, Jean Paul Gaultier, Diane von Furstenberg, Ungaro and Chanel pieces.
Best Place to Shop the Latest Trends: Incognito
If you haven’t shopped Incognito, you’re missing out on a good slice of Royal Oak boutique shopping history. For over 25 years, this all-inclusive, on-trend unisex clothing and streetwear boutique has been a proprietor of edgy, hip, head-turning looks. Since it began as a wholesale eyewear company in the early-'80s, Incognito has not only been the place for great and affordable shades, but unique shoes, jewelry and accessories, as well. Now with pieces from Cheap Monday, Blank, Melody Ehsani, Doc Marten, John Fluevog, Obey, Tripp, Jeffrey Campbell and Adidas to name a few, the Cog crew has managed to stay true to the their punk rock vibe but still to the ever-changing slew of clients. The classic shop has ventured into the web, too, for all the out-of-towners that want more but live too far away —goincognito.com.
Best Place to Buy Women’s Jeans: Rear Ends
Jeans can make or break any woman’s outfit. Whether she rocks ‘em with sneakers or stilettos, the way they hug, hit and hold have a direct effect on her poise and confidence. So why risk looking like Maggie Muffintop when you can score precisely the right pair (and more) from the jeanies at this West Bloomfield hotspot? The place is stocked with jeans from AG, Citizen, Seven, Paige and more, so you can’t go wrong — at all.
Best Place to Buy Men’s Jeans: Caruso Caruso
Those two fine fellas behind the name, Frank Caruso and his adorable son Lennon, sure know what’s up in the world of denim. Offering a mega selection of over 10,000 pairs of jeans for men and women, Caruso has undoubtedly become the go-to denim shop in Birmingham. Lennon can tell you everything you want to know about any particular pair of jeans — the fit, the make, the wash, all of it — which helps big time when some guys (who may not be that into fashion or care to know the difference between straight leg and bootcut) wander in and need some direction. The whole crew always has you covered and they don’t stop at denim. Nab some separates, shoes, shades and more from this one-of-a kind store.
Best Tchotchke shop: Shine
Shine is filled with so many great trinkets we usually go in for a gift or two for someone else and end up leaving with a gift or two for us. In the quaint and charming boutique (that always smells yummy) you’ll find eclectic art and music books, darling goodies for baby, sweet pieces for home like Jonathan Adler ceramics, Kobo candles and unique pieces from Modern Alchemy and Thomas Paul and an inspiring and vibrant array of kitchen goods from serving trays to mugs. There’s a reason it’s called Shine and it always makes us feel bright. Apparently we’re not the only ones!
Best Flower Shop: Blumz by JRDesigns
We used to have a complex about companies substituting the final ‘s’ in their names with a ‘z’ but it just works so well with Blumz. Anyway, we like to think of ourselves as a fresh and far-from-boring breed around here, so when it comes to the old game of flower-buying we opt for anything but basic. Blumz always comes to the rescue whether we’re looking for that perfect bouquet in Ferndale or in Detroit, we know that they can create the perfect arrangement that says it all without saying a word. Blumz.com has come in quite handy, too!
Best Place to Find Local Flavor: Pure Detroit
You might know ‘em best by a few of their now iconic Ts — Detroit Funk, Detroit Soul and Detroit Rock City — but Pure Detroit is much more than a T-shirt company. Spreading sweet Motor City vibes for 11 years now, Pure has become a staple in the city and a popular destination for visitors to grab some gifts in Detroit proper from Detroit-centric reads and local tasty treats like Great Lakes Coffee and Sanders toppings. Visit Pure Detroit downtown inside the Fisher Building, the Guardian Building and in the GM Renaissance Center.
Best Women’s Shoe Selection: Pink Pump
Three pink and leopard print boutiques in metro-Detroit (and one matching Pink Pump VW Bug) and we still think Pink Pump proprietor Tawny Thieu is nowhere near finished making her mark around here. While each Pink Pump shop (Bloomfield, Birmingham and Royal Oak) has its own feel, shoe-loving shoppers can expect top-notch service, cute clothing, adorable accessories and fab footwear from L.A.M.B., Hunter, Charles David, Rock & Republic and more from each and every Pink Pump. This store surely gets our hearts pumping — fast.
Best Store For the Rock ‘n’ Roll Star: Showtime
This Woodward-based wardrobe warehouse has been known for suiting up local rockers since ’89. From tough leather jackets and guitar-smash worthy accessories to the sexiest in fishnet stockings, the biggest and baddest of Motor City musicians looking to really put on a show must stop here to get oufitted before their big gigs. It is Showtime, after all.
Showtime Clothing from Specs Howard TV on Vimeo.
Best Bet For Not-so-Basic Basics: American Apparel
We’re far from prudish over here and we’re just going to come out and say it — we really like the often very risqué American Apparel ads. A little nip here, a little tush there — it all just kind of excites us. That being said, we’ve never found basics so enticing. The store alone with its clean, crisp and colorful merchandising, painfully hip staff and always on-point, in-store soundtrack is enough to make us drops hundreds on T-shirts, sweats and skintight mini-dresses alone. Let us not forget about their rad shades and stockings, though, to complete the look.
Best Eyewear Boutique: Optik
Something comes over us when we enter Optik. Because we shop for frames the same way we do shoes (regularly and recklessly), the incredible selection of deadstock (never worn for those unfamiliar with the term) vintage eyewear to contemporary pieces from Robert Marc, Ksubi, Ray Ban, Miu Miu and more takes over any sort of rational thinking we pretend to have.
Best Jewelry Store: Astrein’s
For over 30 years, Richard and Gary Astrein have provided the finest of the fine in name brand diamond bands and studs, colored stone rings, precious metals from platinum to white gold and more to discerning metro-Detroit jewelry junkies. Prefer to go the custom route? We hear ya. Astrein’s is known for impeccable customer service, whether it’s a simple repair to your favorite old heirloom, in-store appraisals or a personal and top-notch design consultation. There’s a reason they’ve been in business for so long — trust us.
Best Watch Selection: Metals in Time
Metals in Time has some pretty awesome bling, but their watches bring you as much class and sophistication as James Bond. They have a huge selection of everything from designer brands like Burberry and Hermes to super-precision Tag Heuer timepieces. Nothing but the best for their customers — Metals in Time has been family-owned and operated for three generations and they’re still ticking. Their customer service is bar-none … they’ll do more than just give you the time of day; they’ll hook you up with a quality timepiece that will last for years to come.
Best Local Independent Jewelry Designer: Marlaina Stone
You can spot a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, enigmatic Marlaina Stone piece miles away. The globally-noted, Royal Oak-based designer is one of the most passionate, charismatic and hilariously quirky businesswomen we’ve come across thus far — and we wouldn’t have her any other way. Her pieces have recently graced the pages of Redbook, Nylon and Teen Vogue, and we don’t see signs of anything slowing down soon.
Best Trend to Leave in 2009: That Whole Ed Hardy & Affliction Thing
Every time we spot someone in an Ed Hardy-ish shirt, a little piece of us dies inside. Not because we don’t like to wear what looks like tattoos on our clothing (egh), but because it’s become the uniform for people that are one of two things: a.) too afraid to discover their own personal style or b.) massive turds that fall prey to conformity.
Best Store You Don’t Know About: V-Male Detroit Vintage
Oh, how we heart V-Male Vintage. Vic Skelly’s hidden retro gem in Dearborn Heights always catches us off guard when we’re cruising down Tele. Inside the shop you’ll find a fantastic array of lingerie from new pieces from Bernie Dexter to all things vintage pin-up, from kitten ears to bullet bras. Ladies and gents can also grab deadstock vintage wear here, too. Yep, all in Dearborn Heights!
Best Local Shoe Designer: Tom Carbone
Mr. Carbone is the Detroit shoe guru. Previously dabbling in various crafts under the sculpting umbrella — wood, ceramics, furniture and jewelry, metals, glass and more — Carbone creates innovative and avant garde shoes that consistently sweep us off of our own feet. We hope to be able to purchase many-a-pair of Carbone shoes locally soon, but in the meantime, we’ll settle for simply looking at them at local design shows and galleries.
Best Local Formal Wear Designer: William Malcolm
Aside from being a stylish, charming and chivalrous guy, William Malcolm is skilled in the art of men’s suit making. Inspired by the tailoring of men’s wear from the ‘30s through the 20th century, he creates classic men’s formal wear with a twist. We’re keen on the bright interior pocket details adding a burst of flavor to a double-breasted jacket. Kudos to you, William, for making Detroit proud — one pant leg at a time.
Best Place to Buy Avant-Garde High-End Clothing: Linda Dresner
If you’re in any way tied to fashion in metro-Detroit, Linda Dresner is likely a familiar name. Dresner herself is a woman of impeccable taste, edge and style and it shows in her immaculately edited collection, season by season, in her Birmingham store. While Dresner carries the latest in high-end fashion, she pushes the envelope with some high-style and avant garde pieces from Azzedine Alaia, Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe, Yohji Yamamoto and Margiela on the racks. The shop is simple, stark white and acts as a canvas to the stunning pieces that grace the racks.
Best Streetwear Store: Revive
The whole streetwear thing has been around for a while but seems to have resurfaced heavily a few years ago. For those that are up on it, the local go-to spot is, without a doubt, Revive. Owner Aaron Cohen and his crew are so on-point it hurts. Since opening in 2006, Revive has been a suburban oasis for hot shit, from the most exclusive sneakers to heavy-hitting men’s “street” lines from Billionare Boys Club to The Hundreds. The new shop on Maple Rd. in Birmingham oozes cool.
Best Place to Find Home Décor: Leon & Lulu
It’s safe to say that the 15,000-square-foot kingdom of cool in Clawson is an interior decorator’s playground. From the classic to the kitsch, shop owner Mary Liz Curtin has taken the former Ambassador Roller Rink and created a massive one-stop shop for those on the hunt for unique home goods, goofy gifts, inviting furniture and pretty much everything in between. As if the amazing merchandise isn’t enough to make you linger for hours in the store, the roller skating staffers serving up fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, hot fudge and coffee should seal the deal.
Best Store to Open in the Last Year: Scout
Feelin’ down? Pam McLenon’s rock ‘n’ roll-spiked Scout boutique in Royal Oak is one of the easiest ways to brighten your day, and we’re not just talkin’ the neon walls and electric pink accents. McLenon appreciates art, style and humor (as do we), making a trip to Scout a success. Decking the shelves and walls you’ll find McLenon’s signature "Forever Mick & Keith" artwork, Max & Chloe accessories, Love & Toast skin goodies and wonderfully scented Ergo candles in the midst of other awesome Scout stock.
Best Store for the Bachelor: Hugh
Sure, it might be a temporary retail venture (with an alleged six-month lifespan since fall ’09, get there soon!) for local tastemaker Joe Posch (of Mezzanine fame), but Hugh’s a wonderful one at that. The lifestyle shop gives a nod to the classic bachelor in Foxtown’s Iodent Building (which also houses Centaur). At Hugh, you can stock up on vintage and contemporary accessories for the bar: martini shakers, wine carafes, shot glasses and drink stirrers, as well as retro issues of Playboy Magazine (hence the boutique name), as well as sophisticated and stylish goods for home, office and wardrobe. We can’t forget to mention the witty URL associated with Hugh — lovehughlongtime.com.
Best Eyewear Selection: SEE
Thanks to Richard Golden's SEE, we can shop for eyewear like we do for shoes — almost every day — and not have to remortgage our house ... again. The national chain with a boutique feel stays stocked with the latest and greatest in European eyewear trends from fun and funky to sleek and sophisticated. Aside from great glasses and exceptional service from SEE staffers, the shop offers eye exams for under 40 bucks. We're suckers for their cute and clever "hip without the rip" marketing style and each time we receive a compliment on a SEE frame we're rocking, we're always excited to share the details about it, including the amazingly affordable pricetag. We’re customers for life!
Best Place to Get a New Getup and Hear Live Music: The Modern Exchange
This Southgate outfit has more to offer the indie scene than vintage threads and alternative bands. Yes, you can get sweet duds at the Modern Exchange and you can listen to awesome live music, but you can also buy vinyl, sell old clothes, check out local artists, sip espresso and fill your belly. It probably won the best in its category because there’s no other place like it, and that’s why we love it. Since overtaking the infamous Penny Pincher building, the hip folks that run the store have brought enough to the downriver area to earn our devotion.
Best Flea Market: Dixieland
For those of you who’ve never been, the Dixieland flea market in Waterford is a shopping extravaganza like none other. You can buy comic books, cowboy hats, home décor, anything leather and imported jewelry cheaper than you can find anywhere else, all while the hot sun illuminates every item priced to move on this grassy knoll. Also housed in this alfresco shopping center, as if the items listed above weren’t enough to coax your attention, is a spiritual center, a barber shop and a chiropractor’s office. There’s nothing you need that isn’t at Dixieland.
Best Shopping Experience: Partridge Creek
When the weather’s nice, shopping at Partridge Creek is an absolute delight. And when the forecast is less-than-stellar it’s still a great experience. With live music all summer, cobblestone sidewalks, cool architecture and a laidback atmosphere, there’s no better place to get your shopping on. The pet friendly plaza boasts an equal mix of high-end and chic-and-cheap stores, and it’s not uncommon to see a dog wandering through a department store. Next time you need some fresh air, head on over and soak up the super chill vibe and do a little window shopping.
Best Place to Buy a Wedding Dress: Roma Sposa
Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the most fantastic days of your life (OK, some of us wouldn’t know, but …). That being said, why ruin it in a dress that is anything less than breathtaking? Birmingham’s Roma Sposa has a lavish collection of beautiful dresses from Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Marchesa, Badgley Mischka, Peter Langner and more that will allow you to feel glamorous on your big day — and have the same feeling when you glance at your photo books years later.
Best Lingerie Selection: Harp’s
‘Tis no secret that it’s what’s underneath that counts. Since 1947, Harp’s has offered some of the most dainty and delightful lingerie we’ve come across. In addition, the devoted staff offers traditional fittings to help women feel the best and most confident in their underthings. Harp’s defines personal customer service and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Best Chain Music Store: Best Buy
You can get your computer fixed there, buy Guitar Hero and a flat-screen TV and pick up a washing machine and the new Kanye album on the same trip. With more selection than what you’ll find in mall stores at a fraction of the price, Best Buy does music at prices that you’d be hard-pressed to beat even at Wal-Mart. Plus they’ve expanded their musical depth, so there’s more to the racks than unsold copies of Chinese Democracy and the latest offering from the Jonas Brothers. Don’t see what you want? They can order it! How’s that for service?
Best Place to Find Music Equipment: Guitar Center
Guitar Center wins for being accessible —they have more locations spread over the Metro area than anybody else. If you’re on the way to a gig and find that something has either gone missing or failed horribly, you can probably work a stop at Guitar Center into your route and they’ll save the day every time. And if you’re just starting out, look no further than the staff (patient and friendly, of course) to guide you to the starter set-up of your dreams. None of it will drive you into the poorhouse, either, even better for musicians living on the cheap.
Best Local Bookstore: John K. King
Need a book that’s been out of print since before you were born? A cheap copy of a classic? A bookstore easy to get lost in for hours? Look no further than John King Books. With two locations to serve you better — one of which houses five floors of used, rare and out of print books — they’ve been doing it since 1965 and they do it best. The staff is intelligent, loves to talk books and seems to find great joy in locating obscure titles that the customer has been unable to find anywhere else. Silence your cell phone at the door and try to stump them next time you’re in search of something for your mind to chew on.
Best Chain Bookstore: Borders
… but if you’re looking for the latest bestseller, Borders is the place to find it. If they don’t have it in stock, they can probably call up one of more than 20 metro-Detroit locations to get it for you. They don’t carry porn or books that fly under the radar, but the average reader can keep themselves satiated for years with their ever-rotating stock. Their best feature is probably the easy to use, no-employee-required computer search system — or their extensive magazine racks, or their free rewards program … coupons in your email, anyone?
Best DVD/Video Rental: Thomas Video
Thomas Video may look unassuming from the outside. But it’s what’s inside that counts, and they’ve got hundreds of movies that you won’t find anywhere else. If you’ve been searching for a karate flick that enjoyed a limited release in 1982 or a musical you can’t recall the name of … they’ve got you covered on that. The staff is almost Jedi-like in their knowledge of films; even the vaguest description complete with desperate hand motions will often yield a correct title. Smarter and cheaper than chain stores — what’s not to love?
Best Car Audio Store: Mickey Shorr
One Real D staffers's mom got her car stereo installed at Mickey Shorr when she was in high school — your parents probably did, too. They’ve been a Motor City institution since Mickey himself opened the flagship store in Royal Oak with $1000 to his name, way back in 1967. Nowadays, if you need any kind of high-tech electronic shazam for your ride, you can cruise on over to the closest of 16 locations and let them take care of you. You can pick your gadget and they’ll install it on the spot. It’s easier than starting the car on a cold day.
Best Independent Furniture Store: Bright Ideas
Even if you have no need for a couch shaped like a kidney bean or a mod-inspired rug, Bright Ideas is a nifty place to walk around in. The sweeping staircase and airy layout, with tons of natural light, give the three-story store more character than a round microsuede sectional. The way the floor is put together — with creative but logical, livable groupings of furniture — makes more sense than the rows of near-identical tables topped with bowls of wax fruit you find at furniture megastores.
Best Independent Grocery Store: Holiday Market
Not only is Holiday Market the place to find an array of fresh meats, fancy pastries, imported cheeses and the like, but they also have a huge beer and wine selection. People may wander in for a fancy cake or some hard-to-find English jam, but they keep coming back for the beer. Not only is there a wide array of libations to choose from, there’s a knowledgeable staff on hand to help you make an educated decision about what brew will go best with that oven-ready hunk o’ beast you picked up from their butcher. These guys take food (and beer) seriously.
Best Healthy Food Store: Whole Foods
Whole Foods was organic and eco-friendly before carbon offsets became trendy. They make it possible to eat healthy without breaking the bank — and with a wide variety of organic produce and packaged foods that are free of all things artificial, it’s easy. Are you on a special diet? You can probably do your grocery shopping here with no problem. And there’s probably a cooking class to teach you how to make what you buy. Plus there are often impromptu in-store tastings and information sessions — it’s a food adventure.
Best Specialty Market: Westborn Market
You might not have been there, but Westborn Market is the market your mind’s eye conjures up when you imagine the ideal locale within which to scoop up all your foodie needs. With heaps of fresh produce, locally-made items and an amazing selection of ready-to-go foods, it’s the neighborhood destination that everybody thinks of when they think about "market." Westborn is simply a great place to hit up for tasty gourmet treats, a nice bottle of wine or a premade meal to impress.
Best Record Store For a History Lesson: Record Collector
With a forever-rotating stock of new and used vinyl and CDs, the Record Collector is one of those places you have to keep coming back to in order to fully appreciate. They concentrate on cross-genre obscure stuff — everything from spoken word to jazz, hip-hop, techno and rock gets a spot on the shelves. Every visit is like cracking into a new store; you might find an EP from a local underground rapper or a ska 7” and the staff is there to school you on retro stuff you didn’t know you loved but were just waiting to find out.
Best Place to Buy Vinyl: People’s Records
Back and better than ever, People’s Records remains the best place in Detroit to satisfy all your vinyl needs. With over 50 thousand records on hand to peruse, people make the journey to Detroit to find all kinds of vinyl in Brad Hales’ shop. The selection is mostly 45’s, concentrating on hard-to-find jazz, R&B, and soul, but Brad says they’ve got a “little bit of everything,” so everybody that walks in can leave happy. “It’s more fun now — we just built a skate ramp in the basement.”
Best Comic Book Store: Comic City
Stocking everything from superhero comics to manga to off-the-wall independent titles and other cool stuff, Comic City is there when you need to get your nerd on. The Detroit staple since '93 has three stores (Canton, Novi and Pontiac) that are open seven days a week. They offer pull-and-hold service, which means you can ask them to set aside your faves when they come in each month, and pick 'em up at your leisure. Score!
Best Bike Shop: Macomb Bike & Fitness
Macomb Bike & Fitness not only carries top-quality bikes to fit any need, they also have a commitment to making you happy. They’re a full-service bike shop that offers things like free lifetime tune-ups and personalized service. Their people will help you find the bike that best suits your needs, get it fit to you and get you out the door in comfort and style. If you’re taking something in for repair there are mechanics with years of experience to help get your baby back in working condition. We only wish our cars could get service this good …
Best Board Sport Shop/Best Snowboard Shop: Modern Skate & Surf — Royal Oak
Whether you’re new to the sport or a skate and snowboarding veteran, the guys at Modern Skate & Surf can get you on your way. If you need the proper hookups or your board tuned, you can get it there. (They can get your snowboard back in factory condition for $25.) And if it’s beyond saving, they stock brands from Burton to Thirty Two and everything in between, for guys and girls alike. They’re four-time Real Detroit winners for a reason — go see what the hype’s about.
Best Ski Shop: Boyne Country Sports
As good as any ski shop you’d find out west, you can get racer-quality Rossignol and HEAD skis at Boyne Country Sports in Bloomfield Hills. Plus they have an awesome selection of designer ski jackets and pants that even most stores on the slopes can’t match. And once it’s the end of the season — you know, when the snow burns off sometime mid-July — they have a huge sale that draws people from out-of-state like the promise of fresh powder. While there’s still snow on the ground, buy your lift tickets there and you’ll save some cash.
Best local Etsy.com shop: Cyberoptix Tie Lab
Bethany “Toybreaker” Shorb, purveyor of Detroit-mad Cyberoptix “ties that don’t suck” has been on our radar for a while. Aside from being a talented wonder in photography, sculpture, graphic and fashion design, Shorb cranks out wicked cravats, and, as of recently, bow ties, boasting her original silk screened designs from the semi-wholesome to the bizarre. Her models are hot, but in an interesting and not-basic way, and her Etsy shop always seems to look refreshed and exciting with new press and more products. More: http://www.etsy.com/shop/toybreaker
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