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Despite undergoing a renaissance of sorts (plus the opening of its very own Whole Foods), Detroit slid into bankruptcy this year. But one business, the Detroit Bus Company, has a novel idea in the works to bring some extra dollars into the city this holiday season. For $35, suburban types can pay to be driven into the city's urban core to do their holiday shopping. Instead of spending their money at the mall, these intrepid tour-goers will be introduced to Detroit's new wave of hipstery businesses like Shinola as well as The Peacock Room, Hugh, City Bird, Nest "and the Seven and Livernois 'Avenue of Fashion' with its brick sidewalks and new art galleries." And they'll be shielded from the sadder aspects of the city's decline, including a large and vocal homeless population.
Retailers will welcome their guests with champagne, mimosas and snacks. Then they will be ushered back to a pick up point, at which time they'll be bussed back to the safety of the suburbs. The tours are scheduled for this weekend.
· Special Events [The Detroit Bus Company]
· 'Buy Detroit' Shopping Excursion Buses Suburbanites Into The City [CBS Local via Curbed Detroit]
· The New York Times Takes Down Made in Detroit Brand Shinola [Racked]