Metro Detroit Bucket List: Shop ‘Til You Drop at These Must-Visit Retailers

In our 2022 City Guide, we roundup what every local must do in their lifetime. Here are the stores you have to check out.
1161
city bird - must-visit retailers
We asked locals to experience our Bucket List. Paige (left), a regional sales manager at Axis Communications, and model LaPorcshia try on sunglasses at City Bird.

Dress to impress at The Peacock Room

With two locations in Detroit, this glittery boutique should be top of your list if you鈥檙e determined to turn heads at that special event. The Peacock Room has it all, from vintage and vintage-inspired dresses, accessories, and jewelry to home decor and cheeky knickknacks. Detroit:

Update your wardrobe at Bird Bee

This shop, located on the edge of downtown Detroit鈥檚 Capitol Park, is a must-visit for stylish, on-trend women鈥檚 clothing and accessories and gifts. Shop denim, athleisure, dresses, shoes, candles, and even pillowcases at Bird Bee鈥檚 brick-and-mortar or online 鈥 all 鈥渇or the expressive and edgy soul.鈥 Detroit:

Unearth hidden gems at Odd Fellows Antiques

Spend an afternoon traipsing through a 100-year-old historic building in Berkley and sifting through two floors of vintage furniture, decor, artwork, and more. Each booth at Odd Fellows Antiques is jam-packed with one-of-a-kind treasures 鈥 from the charming to the bizarre 鈥 courtesy of 50 different dealers. Berkley:

Discover ceramics at Pewabic Pottery

Shop handcrafted tiles, vases, ornaments, bowls, and more at this Detroit nonprofit, founded in 1903. Keep an eye out for its signature iridescent tiles (featured on buildings around the city). Bonus: Pewabic Pottery is also a ceramic arts education center, so you can sign up for a hands-on workshop and learn how to mold clay or glaze tiles. Detroit:

Cop a new pair at Burn Rubber

Sneakerheads wide and far flock to Burn Rubber, a downtown Royal Oak sneaker boutique stocked with all the beloved brands: Nike, Adidas, Puma, Reebok, Converse, and more. Shop the classics, the hottest new releases, streetwear, and accessories 鈥 and play a couple of arcade games while you鈥檙e there. Shop in store or online; download the store鈥檚 app to stay up on the latest exclusive releases. Royal Oak:

Pewabic - must-visit retailers
Asia (left), the stylist and creative producer behind Style by Jones, and LaPorcshia check out the ceramics at Pewabic Pottery.

Get glammed up at The Lip Bar

Browse lip color, bronzers, eyeshadow palettes, brushes, and everything else you need for a polished beauty look at The Lip Bar, founded and owned by women of color. Get to know this homegrown vegan and cruelty-free brand that went from a rejection on Shark Tank to having its products grace the shelves of major retailers across the country, including Target and Meijer. Detroit:

Grab a timeless piece at Shinola

The company that brought watch manufacturing back to the United States 10 years ago has been a worldwide brand for some time now, selling not only watches but also jewelry, eyewear, candles, and leather goods like bags, belts, and wallets 鈥 all manufactured in Detroit. Shinola鈥檚 flagship location on Canfield Street in Midtown even features a coffee shop and a furniture showroom. Various locations:

Shop till you drop at Somerset Collection

Spend a day exploring more than 180 retailers, from your beloved household names across fashion, home decor, food, and tech to high-end luxury brands. It鈥檚 no wonder French fashion house Herm猫s chose Somerset Collection for its first Michigan location, which opened last year. Troy:

Breathe new life into old fashions at vintage clothing shops

If you鈥檙e looking for a standout item or want to scratch that shopping itch without spending a ton, visit one of metro Detroit鈥檚 many thrift or vintage shops, like Lost and Found Vintage in Royal Oak, which stocks two floors of garments spanning several decades. Also of note are The Lowry Estate in Farmington (fashions from the 鈥70s, 鈥80s, and 鈥90s), Old Soul Vintage in Detroit (hand-picked items 鈥渢hat tell a story鈥), and Rat Queen Vintage in Hamtramck (which specializes in 鈥渃reepy, weird shit and pretty things鈥). Royal Oak: ; Farmington: ; Detroit: vintage.com; Hamtramck:

Explore the suburbs in these downtown shopping districts

We heart downtown Detroit, but there are plenty of spots to see and be seen outside of the city. Walk the charming streets of downtown Birmingham and stop into its shops for fashionable womenswear, menswear, and children鈥檚 clothing 鈥 and catch a movie at one of the two theater complexes. Downtown Rochester has more than 400 shops, restaurants, and businesses and is surrounded by parks, trails, and water 鈥 plus it has a great holiday lights show. Over on the east side, downtown Grosse Pointe Park boasts many charming boutiques and independent shops along Kercheval Avenue, including the 70-year-old family-owned hardware store Pointe Hardware & Lumber (featured in the Clint Eastwood film Gran Torino). Birmingham: ; Rochester: rochestermi.com; Grosse Pointe Park:

john k king - must-visit retailers
Ryan (left), a certified sales consultant at Cadillac of Novia, and LaPorcshia browse the selection at John K. King Used Books.

Get a custom suit at Tailored Detroit

Peruse slick mens-wear at Tailored Detroit. The shop, which is located just east of downtown Detroit, offers styles ranging from crisp suits and sport coats to soft knits and well-fitting denim. For your wedding day or other formal occasion 鈥 or in case you just feel like adding something special to your wardrobe 鈥 schedule a consultation to get fitted for a made-to-measure custom suit. Detroit:

Grab a good read from an independent bookstore

Savor that new-book smell by with a copy of that new release or a childhood favorite from one of the several local bookstores. Along with selling paperbacks and hardcovers, Source Booksellers in Midtown Detroit also regularly hosts community discussions and events. Also visit Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Pages Bookshop and John K. King Used & Rare Books in Detroit or Ferndale, or, for comic books, Vault of Midnight, with locations in Detroit and Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor: ; Detroit: , Detroit, Ferndale: ; Ann Arbor, Detroit:

Brighten up your space with new home goods

If you鈥檙e looking for Detroit-themed, Michigan-made goods (or a variety of other treasures), you would be hard-pressed to find two better places than City Bird and Nest in Cass Corridor of Detroit鈥檚 Midtown neighborhood. Or head to Clawson and visit Leon & Lulu, where you鈥檒l find decor, gifts, and furniture. You can also chat with in-store consultants for design help or even just a second opinion. Detroit: ; Clawson:

Select fresh produce and more at these farmers markets

Spend a Saturday morning walking the sheds at the historic Eastern Market in Detroit, shopping the fruits, veggies, and more, courtesy of Michigan producers. Or, visit the slew of local vendor booths showcasing everything from jewelry to artisan soaps. Farther north, the Royal Oak Farmers Market is another community mainstay, offering produce, meats, cheeses, and more on Saturdays; on Sundays the space is home to the Royal Oak Flea Market. Detroit: ; Royal Oak:


Panelist Picks听

Marv Neal

Fashion and editorial stylist
Marv Neal
Marv Neal

鈥淭he husband-and-wife team 鈥 Anthony 鈥楰oolaid鈥 Temple and Melody Temple 鈥 that own Royal Oak clothing brand AYV x Fresher work as a unit, offering his and hers streetwear options and accessories.

Cream Blends is another Royal Oak husband-and-wife team. Their body oils, butters, scrubs, and creams are to live for.

鈥淲hen I was a teenager, and into my early 20s, we would shop at Simply Casual to express our fashion flair, and in 2022, I鈥檓 still rocking these clothes. They鈥檙e legendary!鈥

Aki Choklat

Chair of fashion design at the College for Creative Studies
Aki Choklat
Aki Choklat

鈥淚 always go into the Carhartt flagship to look for basics. I love oversized sweaters and basic tees. Also, every time I go to Europe, beforehand, I stock up on gifts, since my friends and family over there love it.

Atelier_Det is an appointment-only spot for carefully selected menswear vintage pieces: truly unique workwear and Americana, often with a Detroit theme. The brand is the brainchild of fashion designer Darren Barrowcliff.

B_KS@ is the only place to buy up-to-date fashion magazines and other publications. Ruben Cardenas, the owner, is a passionate magazine and fashion enthusiast, making this Siren Hotel bookstore a must for any fashion lover.鈥


New & Notable

Coup D鈥檈tat

Shop stylish but eclectic womenswear and accessories, plus jewelry, books, skin care, and even candlesticks at this Detroit boutique that opened in November 2019. Detroit:

BYOC Co.

This zero-waste store in Ann Arbor aims to reduce consumption of single-use containers by inviting visitors to 鈥淏ring Your Own Container鈥 to fill up with household cleaners and personal care products. Also shop other eco-friendly items like reusable 鈥減aper鈥 towels. Ann Arbor:

Mongers鈥 Provisions

Offering meats, cheeses, specialty chocolates, charcuterie, jams, and more, this shop has garnered attention in Midtown Detroit, and it recently opened a second location in Berkley. Psst: The Wagyu pastrami is otherworldly! Detroit and Berkley: provisions.com

Spectacle Society

This optical boutique supports independent eyewear designers and brands, including Bevel, Nine, and Kirk & Kirk. Grab your prescription and schedule a one-on-one consultation. Detroit:

Busted Bra Shop

This shop 鈥 offering custom-fitted bras sizes A-O, plus other intimates and swimwear 鈥 has been a Detroit staple since 2013 but now has five locations, including its flagship store in the historic Jefferson-Chalmers business district. Detroit, Rochester Hills,
Ann Arbor:


Paris Giles has been a writer and editor for 10 years, taking a special interest in art, culture, and fashion. When she鈥檚 not working, it鈥檚 not unusual to find her shopping for vintage earrings and other knickknacks. She is a former editor at BLAC Detroit 黑料网.


This story is from the April 2022 issue of 黑料网 Detroit. Read more in our digital edition.听