Shopping · Weekend

Where to shop for the real Detroit in one weekend

Pistachios, cheese, hats since 1893, graffiti jewelry, Shinola and City Bird, then Polish amber and the Rust Belt Market on Sunday.

stops: 11
length: Weekend
areas: 6

Shopping in Detroit isn't about malls, it's a treasure hunt, and the best shops all come with a story. Saturday runs from Eastern Market's century-old family businesses to a downtown haberdashery from 1921, graffiti jewelry in Parker's Alley and two Midtown favorites, Shinola and City Bird. Sunday brings Hamtramck's Polish treasure trove, a rock 'n' roll boutique and Ferndale's weekend market.

Saturday: market to Midtown

08:30
Eastern Market
Eastern Market
Start at the Saturday market: growers, food shops and stores around the historic sheds, with murals on the walls. Bring a big tote, the neighborhood's family shops are all a few steps away.

A few steps along Russell Street.
09:15
Germack Pistachio & Coffee Roasting Co.
Eastern Market
The Germack brothers started importing and roasting pistachios in 1924, the first in America by the company's account, and the fourth generation runs it today. On Russell Street the nut store sits next to an espresso bar and a tea and spice shop, so start with a coffee and a bag of warm pistachios.

A few minutes' walk through the sheds to Market Street.
10:00
DeVries & Co.
Eastern Market
The same family has run this specialty food shop since 1887: cheeses from 14 countries, Michigan-made goods, coffee, oils and vinegars. Don't miss the 1904 Otis freight elevator, still running and one of the oldest working freight elevators in Wayne County.

A few minutes' walk to Riopelle Street.
10:45
Henry the Hatter – Eastern Market
Eastern Market
Detroit's hat shop since 1893: President Eisenhower's inaugural homburg came from here. Stetson, Borsalino, Kangol and Biltmore, plus cleaning and reblocking; not sure of your size? They'll measure you.

A short drive downtown to Monroe Street.
12:00
Hot Sam's Detroit
Downtown
A downtown haberdashery since 1921 that bills itself as the longest-standing in downtown Detroit. Tony Stovall and Cliff G. Green started there as salesmen in 1974 and bought the store in 1994; come for suits, sport coats, hats and an in-house tailor.

About a 5-10 minute walk to Parker's Alley off Farmer Street.
13:00
Rebel Nell
Downtown
Jewelry cut from layers of fallen Detroit graffiti, made by women facing barriers to employment. The social enterprise has employed 50 designers, and at the downtown shop a 30-minute session lets you design your own ring, necklace or keychain.

A few minutes' walk to Woodward, QLINE from Campus Martius to Canfield Street, then a short walk.
15:00
Shinola Canfield Store
Midtown
Shinola launched in Detroit in 2011 to bring watchmaking back to the US, and this West Canfield flagship has been open since June 28, 2013. Try on watches, browse leather bags and jewelry, and get engraving or a monogram done while you wait; there's a cafe inside.

Just across the street.
16:00
City Bird
Midtown
The oldest store on West Canfield, founded by seventh-generation Detroiters Andy and Emily Linn. Its own Detroit- and Michigan-themed line, work by 200-plus regional makers and a wall of 500-plus cards; sister shop Nest next door sells home goods and plants.

Sunday: Hamtramck and Ferndale

12:00
Polish Art Center
Hamtramck
A family-run Polish import shop on Hamtramck's main drag since 1958: amber jewelry, Polish stoneware, folk art, paper cuts, decorated Easter eggs, Christmas ornaments, candies and dried mushrooms. Next door they host egg-decorating classes and folk-art demos.

A few minutes' walk along Joseph Campau Avenue.
14:00
Showtime Clothing (Rock 'n' Shop)
Downtown Hamtramck
Detroit's long-running rock 'n' roll clothing and accessories store, now in downtown Hamtramck. On the last Sunday of the month there's a free in-store concert of rock 'n' roll, garage and rockabilly, snacks included.

Drive north to Ferndale, at Nine Mile and Woodward.
15:30
The Rust Belt Market
Ferndale
A weekend artisan market in a former big-box store since 2011, with about 30 independent shops, many queer-owned, plus a bar and event space. Twice a year it stages a vintage fashion market.

Good to know

On Saturday, DeVries & Co. is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Germack 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Henry the Hatter 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so start early.
Hot Sam's validates two hours of parking at the One Campus Martius garage, 1188 Farmer St.
Book a Rebel Nell design-your-own session online; each half-hour slot fits up to three people.
On Sunday, the Polish Art Center is open noon to 4 p.m. and the Rust Belt Market runs Friday through Sunday only; Showtime Clothing hosts a free in-store concert on the last Sunday of each month, 2 to 6 p.m.