Culture

Are Retail Stores the New Community Centers?

Why so many boutiques are serving up their wares with a side of coffee.
The cafe at Christopher David in PortlandSerena Trieu/Flickr

There are more than a few ways of looking at Shinola.

On one hand, it’s the fount of a high-end hipster aesthetic: leather goods, watches, bikes. On a larger scale, it’s both a symbol of and a contributor to Detroit’s complicated revitalization.