Dee’s Hallmark in Dearborn to Close Next Year
Say goodbye to another Dearborn landmark. After 26 years of serving Dearborn, Dee’s Hallmark on Michigan Avenue will close its doors sometime after the holiday season.
Dee's Hallmark is closing after 26 years serving Dearborn.
The owners, Don and Dee Belcher, are closing the store so they can retire. Clerks in the store say paid parking, which has hurt business, helped expedite the couple’s retirement plans.
The store plans to have a liquidation sale sometime in January 2012. The building has been for sale for more than two years, listing at that time for $640,000.
When we wrote about the building being put on the sales block two years ago, Mr. Belcher said in a note he would do all he could to remain open even if it meant moving to a new location.
“My commitment to survival has always been strong but after closing (3) other stores and using the money to keep Dee’s going there was not enough left to (purchase the building Dee’s is currently located),” Mr. Belcher wrote in 2009. “It is common knowledge that this is not the best time to sell commercial property as evidenced by the many vacancies in our area. However should it sell I will make every effort to negotiate a favorable lease agreement with the new owner. If that is not possible I will look to relocate as close to my current location as I can. A smarter man would have given up long ago I think I’m just to dumb to know when it’s time to quit!!!!”
Dee’s hung on for as long as they could. Like any business, costs go up each year. That can be offset with additional sales but with nothing around Dee’s to help draw new customers, remaining open was no longer a good business equation.
We will miss what was easily the best card shop in Dearborn.
November 23rd, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Another business in Dearborn bites the dust. Good job Chamber of Commerce. You guys are completely useless, along with your sidekick Bluto O’Reilly. Why don’t you aggressively do something to attract businesses to Dearborn, and at least keep the ones you have, while doing so.
November 23rd, 2011 at 2:28 pm
While I would like to think their decision was based solely on wanting to retire, I can’t help but think that the damn paid parking has chalked up yet another victim. Combine that with no real plan for west Dearborn and you have another long time business gone. I frequented Dee’s often and I will be sorry to see them go. One more reason I should start packing my bags and get out of Dodge. Oh but wait, I am sure we’ll have another bar in that space before long.
November 23rd, 2011 at 4:22 pm
More sad news for Dearborn although not surprising news. The lots in Allen Park were jammed today at 11 am. Then driving through Dearborn I was waiting for a tumbleweed to blow by it was so vacant. I remember going to Howell’s years ago and there being no place to park. Now there were parking spots galore there at lunchtime.
And for people to say paid parking isn’t an issue I say think again.
We aren’t making enough money for paid parking. Hey, maybe if we raise the rates again we’ll make enough money. Another great idea.
City leaders do you read this blog? DO SOMETHING!!!! FAST!!!!!!
PLEASE!!!!!!
November 24th, 2011 at 7:22 am
Goodbye and good luck to the Belchers and the city of Dearborn! The cities dream of the ‘super block’ turned into a nightmare – you have made your bed now lie in it!
November 24th, 2011 at 10:04 am
Bill we will have another bar, or hakooka store, or middle-eastern restuarant, just wait and see. Exactly what our City needs — Big Jack we know why u want the eateries, but enough is enough, try getting people who are creative, to attempt to lure businesses here, before its too too late.
November 24th, 2011 at 10:51 am
Since Downtown west Dearborn (DTWD) is the only major business district in the city that I know of where the city owns a large number of parking lots, including the 2 under-utilized parking garages, I wonder if the city has considered at least selling the user paid lots to the adjacent businesses. Even though no one in their right mind would want to buy the garages, which are $11.5 million of the $16 million the city invested in those lots and garages, perhaps this would significantly reduce the $1/2 million plus that the city general fund pays for these lots and garages every year. Then perhaps we could again have free parking in DTWD. My guess is that in this terrible economy though, that it is not financially feasible. However, when times are better, I think it would be wise to consider this option, if these lots could be sold for a decent price.
November 26th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
The only time I used the parking structures was to go to Dee’s. I suspect their death knell was struck when the “first half hour free” policy was kiboshed. In a word, “brilliant.”
Mike, the upkeep and maintenance on those structures exceeds any possible revenue stream, let along paying the note on the purchase.
Its too bad that we citizens are saddled with these loser buildings. Its worse that the law department has failed in forcing the Burton Katzman folks to fullfill their contractural obligations.
What’s even more regretable that the bonding that should have been in place for a project of this scope was not required by the Adminstration.
This debacle is only exceeded by the City’s on-going relationship with the preferred developer. Who actively repels tenants, projects and partners, and whose development skills result in buildings falling vacant and into disrepair.
“The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”
November 26th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Are they even trying to do anything to bring downtown back? Have they considered getting some upscale outlet stores? That’s something Allen Park doesn’t have. If there were a Nordstrom Rack, Harry and David, Coach and other outlet stores people could buy high end merchandise, but the outlet status would fit in with the Goodwill store and Panera Cares. If people are flocking to Allen Park to shop at Old Nave, they would probably come to Dearborn if the Old Navy Outlet store were here. They also need to look at stores we shop at that are farther away like the Apple Store. I’d gladly pay to park to shop at an Apple Store here rather than drive to Novi or Ann Arbor.
But, why are we coming up with all the ideas. What are we paying our city leaders for? At this time of year I think I’d even pay to park to shop at Kohl’s if it were inDearborn rather than drive to Westland.
They also need to offer tax breaks and lower rent for the first few years to allow these businesses to get started. What they are doing down there is just a crying shame.
November 26th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
I’ve never let paid parking stop me from going to downtown west Dearborn, but it is always a one-stop trip to a restaurant. There definitely needs to be more retail!
November 27th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
I would pay to park downtown to go to upscale discount stores like what they have at Birch Run. It’d be worth the parking money not to have to drive out there. Have they checked into Shatila or New Yasmeen possibly opening a store to sell products in our downtown? I’d pay to park and pick up my Middle Eastern food and sweets rather than drive to East Dearborn. Look around, what places do we love but are far away or in a bad area or difficult to get to. I think those things would do well here. I do like the upscale outlet idea. I think that would take some shoppers away from Allen Park and bring them here to dine in our restaurants. Then Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Coldstone will be begging to come back here.
December 1st, 2011 at 2:55 pm
So sorry to hear this. They had tolderated all of the road repairs, etc. for the last upteen years…and continued to stay open!! We will miss these small businessmen.
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Sad2See writes: “Are they even trying to do anything to bring downtown back? Have they considered getting some upscale outlet stores? That’s something Allen Park doesn’t have. If there were a Nordstrom Rack, Harry and David, Coach and other outlet stores …”
Why would those stores—plus an Apple and a Williams Sonoma and a Brookstone (and anything else one could name that may be considered “upscale”)—come to Dearborn? This isn’t the Dearborn of decades past. Years ago, there were upscale stores—really good shopping store that were in Fairlane Mall. Better shopping, indeed. And that is gone. Dearborn no longer commands, or even attacts, higher-level merchants to give city residents (and those in neighboring cities) their business. (They open stores in Oakland County first!)
Outlet shopping is out of date. The people shopping want outdoor theme centers. A unique shopping experience. Which attracts the higher-level merchants. The kind Dearborn should want—if it had the right and available location, and the open space, and the ability to attract the national merchants—is what one finds with (and at) The Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township (Macomb County).