Detroit Mercantile’s Sherri Jameson Shares Seven Hidden Gems in Detroit
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Something had to be done. Sherri Lawton Jameson and her husband, Robert, loved to collect vintage items. So much so that they started running out of room for their unique treasures.
“We decided that if we didn’t start selling some of the vintage items in our house that the show 'Hoarders' would be called,” Lawton Jameson joked. “We decided we needed to do something.”
To the market they went—the Ann Arbor Antique Market, that is. For nearly five years the duo peddled their wares here and at the Rust Belt Market. Last spring they decided to team up with neighbor Robert Stanzler, and open a permanent space in Detroit’s eastern market.
The Skinny:
- Fun Fact: Sherri, who works as a designer by day, likes to repurpose items for the store. Think notebooks made from library books.
- Detroit Mercantile
3434 Russell St.
Detroit, MI 48207 - 313-831-9000
- info@detroitmercantile.com
- detroitmercantile.com
“The whole style
of the store is based off a general store,” Lawton Jameson said. “Back in the
day [they] would carry a lot of local things people need, and then they’d bring
in something exotic that people have never seen before. That’s the type of
stuff we try to bring in.”
Picture a collection of vintage finds, handcrafted goods with a design bent and American-made products (including an array of things from Michigan and the Midwest).
“A lot of the stuff we have at the store is what you would imagine would be in an urban loft in a large city,” Lawton Jameson said.
For Lawton Jameson and her husband (they both grew up in Michigan), there’s no better time to live and work in Detroit. The city, she said, is experiencing a “makers movement.”
“For years you always hear, ‘Detroit is coming back.’ You kind of get jaded about it because you hear it so many times,” Lawton Jameson said. “This is the first time I’m actually seeing it and feeling it.”
Just like the historic building Detroit Mercantile resides in (a large red brick building where Detroit’s fire trucks used to be fixed), Lawton Jameson’s pins this week give a nod to Detroit’s storied past, with a look towards the city’s bright future.
“It’s a blank slate. There’s no place to go but up.”
Each day this week Lawton Jameson will share hidden gems she’s found in Detroit. Stay tuned to see what this designer and Detroit Mercantile partner pins.
Pin #1: “The 36-story Guardian Building in Detroit is a great example of Art Deco architecture. The building is decorated with Pewabic tiles and a beautiful six-story tall mural by Ezra Winter. Pewabic Pottery, known for its iridescent glazes, was founded in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry. The company is still around today and carries on the tradition of fabricating heirloom-quality pottery pieces. The mural, decorating the back wall of the old banking lobby, depicts Michigan and its industries. The overall look is over the top (in a good way), playful and optimistic – just beautiful!” –Sherri Lawton Jameson
Pin #2: “Don’t go to Shorpy.com unless you have at least a couple of hours to get lost in their extensive archive of vintage images! What I appreciate most about this site is the ability to view images at a high resolution. There are so many details to see. I particularly love the canoe in the front that has a phonograph on it. This one, circa 1907, is titled ‘Band Concert on Grand Canal, Belle Isle Park.’ Belle Isle – the crown jewel of Detroit’s public park system – was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who was also responsible for New York’s Central Park.” –Sherri Lawton Jameson
Pin #3: “It seems like a new mural appears on a daily basis in Detroit. They add a new layer of vibrancy to the patchwork of our city – especially when done well. This one, titled ‘The Weird Villains,’ is located close to our store in the Eastern Market area. Rather than just covering up the entire building with new paint, I really like how they incorporated the original brick and paint color into the mural. It’s well designed and illustrated, and doesn’t take itself too seriously.” – Sherri Lawton Jameson
Pin #4: “Few things spark more debate in Detroit than the question, ‘Who serves the best coney dog?’ That’s a hot dog with chili, onions, and mustard for the uninitiated. A great social equalizer, Lafayette Coney Island serves CEOs to field-tripping school kids and everyone in between. Ordering is simple. Just stand up and shout ‘3 on 2, heavy onion, chili cheese fries.’” – Sherri Lawton Jameson
Pin #5: “The city of Detroit is 139 square miles. It is estimated that about 20 of those are vacant and unused –leaving plenty of room for trees, green open spaces, prairies, urban farms and pocket parks. Since 1989, the Greening of Detroit has been instrumental in getting these types of projects off the ground. This summer, Detroit Mercantile built five new raised beds to share with the residents in our building – they are already spilling over with heirloom tomatoes, green beans, lettuce and a wide variety of flowers.” – Sherri Lawton Jameson
Pin #6: “Sometimes the inventions that directly impact our lives are those we most take for granted. The ‘Home Arts’ exhibit at The Henry Ford applauds these unsung heroes. The best parts of the exhibit – the four period kitchens (especially the one shown here from the 1930s) — have fascinated me since the first time I saw them as a child. From the colors, the design of the product labels in the Hooiser cabinet to the appliances that were the same as what my grandma used — items made back then were made to last!” – Sherri Lawton Jameson
Pin #7: “Why choose my dog Chauncey? He’s the official shop dog of The Detroit Mercantile Co. Chauncey is not always at the store, but when he is there he certainly makes an impact. Relaxing in the shadow of our iconic Detroit building woodcuts (designed and created by Detroit Mercantile Co,), he is the quintessential city dog!” – Sherri Lawton Jameson
