« The Height of Silliness
Bus for Art’s Sake »

After a Fashion

“Überliberal Ann Arbor ensures that there’s a motley crew of fashionable types available — from the label-heavy out-of-staters to scenesters, punks, hippies and, yes, Mods — and the retail scene here is equally eclectic … After all, if you’ve got it, flaunt it,” says Women’s Wear Daily. Huh? Maybe if “eclectic” means a choice between head-to-toe fleece and sack dresses for the Artisans’ Market crowd. All we can figure is that WWD is a magazine struggling to find its footing after its reporter/suspected rapist/firefighter impostor Peter Braunstein went on the run.

Today’s Business Review provides some perspective on the A2 retail scene by interviewing the owner of local boutique Suwanee Springs. “I do not develop relationships with customers who return things,” he tells BR. “That would not be my preference for a customer.” Ah, those friendly local businesses.

11 Responses to “After a Fashion”


  1. I hate fashion. Wear ugly Hawaiian shirts year-round, I say.

    posted by Dave on December 8th, 2005 at 12:58 pm

  2. Thrift Shop
    14 S Washington St, Ypsilanti, MI
    (734) 483-1226

    Ann Arbor Thrift Shop
    3530 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI
    (734) 662-6771

    posted by Andrew on December 8th, 2005 at 1:09 pm

  3. That is why Suwanee Springs is always my first choice for gift buying in Ann Arbor…just kidding…this Ann Arbor asshole retailers make me sick.

    posted by loca on December 8th, 2005 at 1:16 pm

  4. Some years ago, I worked in a department store in Briarwood, unloading trucks, cleaning, etc. I used to think that department stores were intended to offer a wide range of products to various audiences, but that’s not actually true. The men’s clothing section was in the far corner of the second floor, because men are only a small side market in the biz. The main product for sale was women’s clothes.

    And not ALL women’s clothes. I remember seeing a shipment rejected, with the manager making some rude comment along the lines of “We do not sell dresses for fat women!” Later, she told me that it wasn’t “customary” (or some similar word) for Ann Arbor stores to stock larger dress sizes. No wonder larger-sized women I knew had to go to Detroit or Lansing to find clothes.

    Of course, that was a long time ago. The retail market has changed radically since then, right?

    posted by Larry Kestenbaum on December 8th, 2005 at 2:19 pm

  5. Yes, the retail market has changed some. I can remember when most department stores only stocked sizes up to 14. But at some point they realized that there were a LOT of women who were over a size 14 and those women were often older and had money to spend on clothes. Then they started stocking larger sizes.

    posted by lynne on December 8th, 2005 at 7:16 pm

  6. The local example of poor customer service attitudes is one of the swiftest way to kill business. Lack of service is everywhere and all of us have suffered frustration due to it.
    I was priveleged to work 17 years at a local family-run jewelers whose very essence is customer service. Their longevity and appeal is closely linked to this quality. Lessons I learned there in the 60’s, 70s, and 80’s have never left me and I use them to measure other businesses to this very day.

    posted by skyhawk on December 16th, 2005 at 12:36 pm

  7. Are Kiddie Corner and The Quality Bakery (not to mention Chez Crepe) on Main Street still around ? (Just kidding)
    - Exiled Townie

    posted by Marvin Gardens on December 22nd, 2005 at 9:07 am

  8. Celebrity fashion has become somewhat of an obsession for the public and the media nowadays. Many people don’t watch the award shows to see who is winning what awards, they want to see what everyone is wearing.

    posted by Mark on November 25th, 2006 at 3:51 am

  9. Screw snotty boutiques! I do a lot of shopping at a local consignment shop where you are likely to get heckled by the owner if you are too pretentious. (Sort of reverse of the A2 norm) She’s pretty sweet plus her shop has nice stuff. I’d recommend checking it out www.klothesklosetconsignment.com

    posted by Sarah Marie on January 4th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

  10. I think customer service has really had a downfall in the marketplace. Even companies who prided themselves on their customer service have been on a decline for years. I know first hand.. I just retired from a company I thought I would work at until I was 60! I am currently 23. Shame. But I think that just gives the smaller mom and pop stores more opportunity when fancy bigger boutiques mess up! I hope they flop! :)

    Cheers!

    posted by Myriad Lingerie on May 8th, 2008 at 11:58 am

  11. The owner of owner Suwanee Springs is super cool guy. He carries great, trendy clothes and handbags. If you want good quality products that you can’t find anywhere, than Suwaunee Springs is the place for you. Guys, if you want to impress your gal with some of the hippest fashion, than stop by. They don’t doesn’t carry the crap that Macy’s does. I may not be for you if don’t make more than miniman wage.

    posted by Amy on December 17th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

Leave a Reply