Birmingham Day on the Town – Business as Usual

If you have tried to go shopping in Birmingham, Michigan this summer, you probably didn’t get what you were looking for, whether it was fine jewelry, a great meal or even that new pair of yoga pants.

Why you may ask, well the city embarked on a spring summer renovation of the subterranean infrastructure at the downtown core and as a result East West traffic on Maple from Woodward to the far side of downtown was closed most of the summer as well as North South traffic from Brown street up to Willits being out of order.

It’s challenging to put into perspective, shutting down the main areas of a thriving walkable downtown, especially when the suburban retailers are taking so much pressure from Downtown Detroit and Amazon, nevertheless Birmingham went through with their plans.

There have been casualties, we saw Mitchell’s Fish Market close earlier this year and rumors continue to fill the real estate grapevine with other restaurant chains planning an exit, and J. McLaughin moved over to the Somerset Collection but Birmingham has won some new business through this downtown refresh.  The Starbucks Reserve opened just prior to the street closures, Allen Edmunds left Somerset Collection and Verizon Wireless backfilled the former Starbucks location, Kohler, and ICONIC Landlord and Tenant representation is eagerly awaiting the opening of the second KaKu Sushi and Poke later this month.

This weekend Birmingham Day On the Town will unveil the highly anticipated new streetscape and business can go back to normal in the affluent suburb that plays host to some of the best retail in Metro Detroit.

Thank you for reading, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the topic, so please comment, email or call!