New Retailer Yama Coming to Fisher Building; Merit Goodness at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets

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In collaboration with real estate development company The Platform, owner Rachel Lutz today announced Yama, a contemporary women’s retailer, will open on the first floor of the Fisher Building in Detroit this fall.

Named in honor of Detroit architect Minoru Yamasaki, who designed the World Trade Center in New York and the One Woodward Building in downtown Detroit, the 2,000-square foot Yama will join Lutz’s other stores, The Peacock Room and Frida, both of which are located in Midtown’s Park Shelton Building just north of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

As a tribute to its namesake, Yama’s apparel will feature architecturally-inspired, edgy fashion and accessories for the modern woman. The store will offer sizes 00-26 at all price points, as part of Lutz’s commitment to serve more women.

“There has been such an overwhelming response to The Peacock Room that we’ve outgrown our footprint after doubling the original space,” says Lutz. “I’m now doubling that into New Center, a neighborhood that will be growing leaps and bounds over the next few years.”

The Peacock Room, which opened in 2011, has been named best women’s retail in Detroit by Hour Detroit magazine.

IN RELATED NEWS Detroit-based clothing company Merit Goodness today announced the opening of a store at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills. The retail location is the second for the company, which operates a store at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, and funds scholarships for underserved youth in Michigan attending college.

“For us, our space inside Great Lakes Crossing is another outstanding opportunity to partner with Taubman Centers Inc. to showcase what we do, meet new people, and build more awareness of and impact on what we do with the youth,” says David Merritt, founder of Merit Goodness. “It’s also a chance for us to introduce a new concept to our stores: Design Your Fate. Every week we’re going to have a different design that people can select, choose the ink color, and get printed while they wait. This interaction gives us more time to educate people about our mission, so they understand the impact they are making when they buy our garments.”

Meritt founded Merit Goodness in 2012 with the idea that selling high-quality apparel through a social good model would allow him to help more students throughout Detroit attend college. Through its FATE program, the company also ensures students have the necessary tools, mentorship, and motivation to be successful academically.