After months of speculation and anticipation, the Nike Detroit Community Store is open.
The line of people waiting to get into the new store went down Woodward, past the Moosejaw and turned the corner down Grand River. Exact numbers weren’t available, but many turned out to see Michigan State Basketball Coach Tom Izzo as well as the store opening.
“Sport is a cornerstone of our state pride,” said Tom Izzo, Michigan State University head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer. “Fostering early, positive experiences with physical activity is incredibly important for young adults, which is why I’m thrilled to welcome Nike to the city of Detroit.”
This is the seventh Nike Community Store in the United States; there are locations in Portland, Washington D.C., New Orleans, East Los Angeles, and the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
The Community stores differ from Nike retail stores in four different ways. Community stores employees who live within a five-mile radius from the store make up 80% of their staff. They also give $5,000 grants to eight local non-profits annually. The company also focuses on volunteering in the community to bring positive ideas about physical activity.
The final thing that is focused on is making the Community store reflect the city they are in. From the photo mural on the wall, to the Detroit clothing, and the sports team apparel they aimed to take everything into consideration.
“By expanding Nike’s Community Store concept to include local grant programs, we look forward to fostering even deeper connections that empower young leaders where our store teams live and work,” says Dennis van Oossanen, VP and GM of North America Direct-to-Consumer.
The Nike Store is located in the former F.W. Woolworth Building on Woodward, sandwiched between the Hudson Café and Moosejaw.
The 22,000 square foot store has two levels of clothing and shoes for men, women, and children.
The Nike Detroit Community Store is located at 1261 Woodward Detroit, Michigan 48226
Hours: Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
I took a bunch of pics and a video on my visit today, so enjoy.
Tom Izzo and a fan take a selfie.
