New Report Details Who's Shopping in Birmingham, Complaints About Parking

The most-visited business downtown is the Palladium 12 Theater and the amount spent by Birmingham shoppers continues to decline, according to a new market analysis on the Principal Shopping District.

Who is shopping and dining in downtown Birmingham? Where do they live and where are they going? And what's the one thing visitors would like to see change for the better? These questions and more were tackled in a seven-page market analysis of the Birmingham Principal Shopping District (PSD), presented last week during the PSD's monthly meeting. The report outlines not only who shops and dines in downtown Birmingham, but polled shoppers on where they live and where they're going most, while also taking a look at the retail and dining mix. The report was conducted by Strategic Edge, a consulting firm out of Sylvan Lake hired by the PSD earlier this year. Similar studies of the downtown area were published in 2002 and 2007. The total cost of…

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Lyudviga Couture Wins Birmingham's Storefront Decorating Contest

The Townsend Street boutique received more than 1,000 votes for their "Let It Snow"-inspired window decor.

Adding even more holiday cheer to a downtown already decked out for the holidays, on Friday the Birmingham Principal Shopping District named Lyudviga Couture the winner of its 2012 Storefront Decorating Contest. The specialty clothing boutique, which opened at 105 Townsend in 2011, received more than 1,000 votes during the PSD's contest, which asked downtown retailers to dress up their windows using "Let It Snow" as their inspiration. In total, 24 downtown stores participated in the contest — brought back this year after a two-year hiatus. More than 3,000 votes were submitted at the PSD's Facebook page, Enjoy Birmingham NOW. "Our goal is to get stores excited about creating great windows," the PSD's executive director, John Heiney, said. "…

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Vote For Your Favorite Birmingham Storefront This Holiday Season

The Principal Shopping District is bringing back its Storefront Decorating Contest this year, challenging shop and restaurant owners to "let it snow" in their display windows.

Birmingham normally dresses up for the holidays, but almost 20 Birmingham shops and restaurants will be a little more festive this year. Seventeen Birmingham stores and eateries are participating in the Principal Shopping District's (PSD) Storefront Decorating Contest this year, sprucing up their front windows and entryways with snowflakes, snowmen and more. After a two-year break, the PSD's contest challenges Birmingham retailers and restauranteurs to decorate their storefronts to use "Let It Snow" as their inspiration. Shoppers can vote for their favorite at the PSD's Facebook page Enjoy Birmingham NOW through Dec. 21, with the winner earning an overnight stay at the Townsend Hotel plus prizes to give away to their Facebook fans. A …

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Birmingham Looks to Bring Shoppers Downtown With New Ads

Dozens of downtown shops, restaurants and landmarks are featured in a series of new television ads.

This holiday season, you could be watching television and wait — is that downtown Birmingham? This season is the first in three years that the Birmingham Principal Shopping District (PSD) is airing television ads meant to attract Metro Detroit shoppers to the city's downtown shops during the holiday shopping season. The PSD has produced a series of three ads that reproduces downtown Birmingham in colorful sketches, featuring more than a dozen Birmingham landmarks, shops and restaurants, including Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro, Dick O'Dow's, Harp's Lingerie, Batteries Plus and Ecology. "This year, come see how shopping was meant to be," the ads urge. According to the PSD's Edward Nakfoor, the total cost of the advertising campaign — which …

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Birmingham Parents Urge Shoppers to Make 'Bids for Kids' During Walking Auction

During the week of Nov. 3-10, bid on prizes at more than 50 downtown shops and restaurants, and you'll be helping Birmingham Public Schools.

Downtown Birmingham is a popular spot for shopping, and two local parents are looking to take advantage of that foot traffic to raise money for Birmingham Public Schools. Birmingham parents and longtime residents Paige Leary and Deborah Knight will be kicking off "Bids for Kids" the week of Nov. 3-10, a walking auction taking place at more than 50 downtown shops, salons and restaurants. During Bids for Kids, shoppers can bid on various prizes at the stores, with each business selecting their own prize packages. The highest bidders will be contacted at the end of the week, and 100 percent of the proceeds goes back to Birmingham Public Schools. The project is a partnership between the Birmingham Principal Shopping District and Birmingham …

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On the Storefront

Business Briefs: Social Kitchen Sets June 21 Opening and More

What's going on in the Birmingham business community? A new spa sets a June 15 opening date while the Principal Shopping District commissions a downtown study.

Here's a snapshot of what's going on in the Birmingham's business community this week: Birmingham's newest bistro — Social Kitchen and Bar — will be opening their doors on June 21 at 225 E. Maple Rd. With a rooftop dining deck and tables in the adjoining alleyway, the 150-seat restaurant will feature a menu that takes an upscale twist on classic American cuisine. "I wanted a value-driven menu that's affordable for anyone, without making any sacrifices in the quality of the food," said chef and owner Zack Sklar. "It's called Social because this is a place for everyone. It doesn't matter who you are or how much money you make." Social was approved for one of 2012's two bistro licenses in early January, picked by city commissioners from an …

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On the Storefront

Business Briefs: New Gym, Boxing Facility Moving to Birmingham

Here's a snapshot of what's going on in Birmingham's business community: Jay Towers is the latest to participate in Chen Chow's celebrity sushi program and the PSD supports a main street fairness bill.

Here's a snapshot of what's going on in Birmingham's business community: Birmingham will have another gym to add to its roster of places to stay in shape this summer, as West Bloomfield's Art of Strength plans to move into a 5,000 square-foot facility at 1025 Webster Ave. The center is led by personal trainer Mike Knight and co-owner Scott George. The Birmingham center will feature many of the same equipment and training classes as the West Bloomfield location, in addition to a boxing facility. "We thought Birmingham would suit us best," said George. "It's within 10 miles of the original location, but we are still hitting a completely new demographic. We're really excited about working, not only with Birmingham residents, but with people …

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Talking About Safety in Birmingham: Residents React to Recent Downtown Incidents

'People who live here are probably not the ones who get into fights,' educator says.

This story is part of a series on downtown Birmingham that explores issues raised by recent incidents, as well as the city's response to them. An emotional subject — downtown comfort on weekend evenings — has fueled many conversations among families, friends, merchants and neighbors in Birmingham these days. Incidents drawing police attention have prompted several discussions about community identity, business mix and nightlife regulation. The dialogue — at a city commission meeting, in Patch comments, across tables — is sparked partly by a two-week series of events: Concerns also involve clusters of young people crowding sidewalks near theaters, coffeehouses and ice cream shops, an annual warm weather issue. "I'm definitely in favor of a …

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Selling Birmingham's Downtown Shopping District

Julie Fielder promotes downtown as 'the ultimate in that live/work mode.'

Business Briefs: Principal Shopping District Happy With Recent Event Traffic

We've got your weekly update of what's going in Birmingham's business community.

Here's a snapshot of activity in Birmingham's business community this week: The Birmingham Principal Shopping District (PSD) reported that the Birmingham Bike Festival and Birmingham Cruise was a success this year, as discussed at the group's monthly board meeting Sept. 1. According to PSD Executive Director John Heiney, attendance numbers were high at both events, particularly the Cruise on Aug. 20. "The foot traffic was outstanding," he said. "As good as I've seen it in a couple of years." Heiney said the city is looking at tweaking the event slightly for next year by adding more family-oriented events, such as face-painting, to the mix. In addition, Heiney said the PSD board heard reports on summer plantings winding down, noting the "…

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