Campus Martius Park Opens Retail Shop Showcasing Detroit-made Brands, Exclusive Collaborations

DETROIT – Visitors to Campus Martius Park now have a new way to take home a piece of Downtown Detroit.

The Downtown Detroit Partnership today opened The Shop at Campus Martius, introducing a retail destination in the heart of the city’s most active public space.

Located in Campus Martius Park — voted the No. 1 public square in the country by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards — the shop transforms a visit into a lasting connection to Downtown. The space features Detroit-inspired merchandise, locally designed apparel and seasonal goods, with proceeds directly supporting the programming, maintenance and year-round activation of Downtown Detroit Partnership’s parks and public spaces.

Rooted in local craftsmanship, the opening collection includes an exclusive collaboration with Pewabic, the city’s renowned ceramic studio and one of its most treasured cultural institutions. A centerpiece of the opening collection is the first-ever Campus Martius Park tile in Pewabic’s “Postcards from Detroit” series, handcrafted exclusively for The Shop at Campus Martius and inspired by one of Detroit’s most recognizable public spaces.

“The Shop at Campus Martius gives visitors a new way to engage with Downtown Detroit while directly supporting the parks and public spaces they enjoy,” said Laura Dean, director of parks and public spaces for the Downtown Detroit Partnership. “It’s a natural extension of the park experience and will help sustain the programming and energy people have come to expect here.”

Housed in a custom-built shipping container, the shop is made possible through generous support from Carhartt, whose history in Southeast Michigan spans more than 135 years. The collaboration builds on the company’s ongoing investment in the places where Detroiters gather, connect and celebrate their city. In 2024, Carhartt became the official outfitter of the Downtown Detroit Partnership’s parks and public spaces team.

“Public spaces like Campus Martius are where Detroit’s energy, creativity and community come together,” said Amy Fencyk, vice president of people strategy, analytics and impact at Carhartt. “We’re proud to continue working alongside the Downtown Detroit Partnership to support The Shop at Campus Martius and the shared spaces that bring people together in our hometown of Detroit.”

The store also opens with a limited-edition apparel collection by Detroit-based studio SMPLFD illustrating one of Campus Martius Park’s most anticipated seasonal traditions: the annual bloom of more than 30,000 tulips that transforms the park each spring into a vibrant urban garden.

Additional collections draw inspiration from Campus Martius Park landmarks, including the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument and Michigania, the bronze figure that crowns the monument.

The Shop at Campus Martius features a curated mix of apparel, gifts and seasonal items, including:

• Apparel: Crewneck sweaters, quarter-zips, T-shirts and hats
• Gifts: Candles, tiles, tote bags and stickers
• Paper Goods: Greeting cards and postcards
• Seasonal Items: Sand buckets, bubbles and outdoor toys
• Plush Toys: Plush animals inspired by native Michigan wildlife
• Convenience Goods: Lip balm and hand sanitizer
• Snacks: Better Made chips, Faygo and Absopure water

More than a retail destination, The Shop at Campus Martius serves as a showcase for the makers, artists and brands helping shape Detroit’s creative identity and contribute to its economy. From century-old institutions preserving Detroit’s artistic heritage to emerging studios creating contemporary designs, each partner reflects a different facet of the city’s culture, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit.

Additional featured partners include:

Drawn to Detroit

Founded by local artist Leah Thompson, Drawn to Detroit has built a loyal following through illustrations that celebrate the city’s architecture, neighborhoods and hidden landmarks.

Ink Detroit

What began as a local screen-printing operation has grown into a Detroit apparel and merchandise company that helps businesses, organizations and events tell their stories through custom products.

Scent Science

Founded by Kiana Hughes, Scent Science Candle Bar is a fragrance company known for its handcrafted candles and immersive scent experiences. After building a strong following through pop-ups and community activations across metro Detroit, including Downtown Detroit Parks, Hughes opened the company’s first candle bar in Detroit’s Live6 community in 2020 and a second location in Auburn Hills in 2023.

Detroit Sign Painters

This Detroit-based hand-lettering and mural studio, known for its bold, vintage-inspired sign-painting style rooted in the city’s rich creative and public art traditions, created the custom artwork throughout the space. Led by acclaimed craftsman Zak Warmann, whose projects include the restoration of Michigan’s iconic Gibraltar Man statue and numerous restaurant and bar interiors and exteriors across Detroit, the studio brought a distinctive local character to the design.

“Every item in the shop tells a story about Detroit, whether it’s inspired by Campus Martius Park, created by a local maker or produced in partnership with a Detroit-born brand,” said David Cowan, chief public spaces officer for the Downtown Detroit Partnership. “The Shop gives visitors a way to take a piece of that experience home while helping support the public spaces that bring people together.”

The Shop at Campus Martius will remain open for the season through October. Operating hours are from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.