Allen Park native John Varvatos will open his new flagship location in downtown Detroit on March 13.
“There’s a lot of passion in it,” Varvatos said in the current issue of DBusiness magazine. “I feel like (opening) the store is just the tip of the iceberg for what’s happening with the city right now, with what the opportunities are.”
The store is located on the first floor and mezzanine level of the Wright Kay building at 1500 Woodward — one block south of Grand Circus Park. The 4,000 square feet store, which at one time was one of downtown’s most respected jewelers, is joined on the upper floors by Wright & Company (bar/restaurant), Neumann/Smith Architecture, and Hudson Editorial, a division of Avalon Films.
The store will sell suits, sportswear, and leather jackets. Varvatos says he wants to offer some Detroit-specific products, such as leather jackets and T-shirts that feature Michigan-born musicians such as Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper.
Varvatos is also planning on looking into manufacturing some of his products in Detroit, including accessories from local artisans.
“You’ve got an amazing labor force here who want to work and want to be creative. It inspires me to do more there as well,” Varvatos said.
Varvatos is expected to make a visit to the store in the coming weeks, most likely in April.
