This edition of our Day In The Life Of Detroit series brings us down Livernois Avenue in our incomplete but hopefully still entertaining attempt to tell a nuanced story of life in Detroit, one major street at a time.
I started at 8 Mile and worked south, checking all the newly revamped businesses near the Avenue of Fashion.
The Glam Shoppe window display.
Bravo Graphix.
Flagship Boutique.
Art In Motion just got their pottery wheel up and running.
Kuzzo's is still not open, but "coming soon."
Of course, it's not all new -- some businesses have been around for much longer. This set of chairs sits outside Fred's Furniture Liquidation, a stellar place to look for old furniture and knick knacks. You can also get free pants at Times Square Men's Clothing, in case you've lost yours.
Sometimes businesses are mobile.
In the Bagley neighborhood just south of 7 Mile, a pair of scrappers collect springs from mattresses.
The neighborhood also has the rare curbside recycling program.
Near University of Detroit Mercy and the Lodge, shops have a real talent for catchy names. I have no beef with this.
Nicky D's Coney Island is conveniently located directly next to a Micky D's.
And the gas is incredibly pure.
The stairs to nowhere.
Last time we tried to shoot Livernois, we were heavily distracted by a smoky sky and massive fire on McGraw Street. Previously a bread factory, abandoned factory, and potential dumping ground, the burn out is now being scrapped and cleaned up like a boss.
McGraw street on the west side of Livernois has blighted buildings on the north side and a ThyssenKrup Steel plant on the south side.
Back on Livernois, the shops are a little less colorful.
This house in southwest Detroit was selling everything. "Fridges & freezers, pipe benders, shovels, tools, sewing machines, hardware, electrical, plumbing...."
Can anyone tell me why the Happy's Pizza logo looks distinctively confused?
Waiting for the bus in southwest Detroit.
Looking east from the train tracks just south of I-75.
Looking north from the same tracks, a streetside monument to someone who passed away.
Livernois ends at Jefferson, butting into Fort Wayne, where a cheery man was mowing the grass in an otherwise empty complex.
