Flashpoint: Retail changes coming to Detroit

DETROIT – Flashpoint began Sunday with a look at a new high-end design store opening in Detroit, as John Varvatos brought a new retail option to the Motor City. The panel talked about the shopping climate in Detroit and tried to define 'retail success.'

Devin Scillian said retail has been a problem area for Detroit for years and is one of the major differences that separates the city from others like New York and Chicago.

But clear changes are beginning to pop up around Detroit.

Shinola is selling watches and bicycles in midtown, Whole Foods is packed with grocery shoppers and now John Varvatos is here to sell thousand-dollar jackets and scarves.

Rachel Lutz, owner of The Peacock Room and Frida, Zana Smith, owner of Spectacles, Bridget Russo, Chief Marketing Officer for Shinola and Mark Denson, Business Development Manager for the DEGC joined Devin to talk about retain in Detroit and what the new addition of John Varvatos does to improve that landscape.

You can watch the first segment in the video above.

The conversation continued after the break, focusing on where Detroit is in terms of retail.

Russo talked about her company's presence in Detroit and said that Shinola wanted to be in a city where their impact would matter.

Lutz talked about the feeling of buying something in Detroit and the options for picking up luxury items in the city, even cheaper items at Whole Foods. She said more retail needs to be responsive to the neighborhoods.

Denson said Detroit needs to focus on creating a vibrant retain environment that attracts not only local entrepreneurs, but also national businesses to come to the city.

Smith said that there's no resentment from the longer standing companies in Detroit because the competition with new companies makes all the businesses better and helps the city of Detroit as a whole.

Click on the video below to watch part two of the conversation about retail in Detroit.

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In the third segment, Devin spoke with Megan Dirienzo, interpretive planner for the DIA.

Dirienzo talked about the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo exhibit and how it ties into the history of Detroit.

Devin asked Dirienzo to talk about the history Rivera and Kahlo and what to expect in the exhibit. Dirienzo talked about some of the pieces of the exhibit, like the tall murals and drawings.

Dirienzo said the large drawings in the exhibit are an example of Rivera's plans when he was beginning to paint.

You can watch the third segment in the video below.

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